Low volatility auxin herbicide formulations

ABSTRACT

Low volatility dicamba herbicide formulations are described. In some embodiments, concentrate formulations comprising dicamba monoethanolamine salt, dicamba potassium salt, or mixed dicamba salts are provided. In other embodiments, a dicamba salt is combined with a polybasic polymer.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/472,425, filed Mar. 29, 2017, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/093,289, filed Apr. 7, 2016, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/389,864, filed Feb. 10, 2012, based on PCT application PCT/US2010/044873, filed Aug. 9, 2010, claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/232,710, filed Aug. 10, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to low volatility auxin herbicide formulations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Auxin herbicides have proven to be effective and highly beneficial for control of unwanted plants. Auxin herbicides include 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4-DB (4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butanoic acid), dichloroprop (2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid), MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid), MCPB (4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid), aminopyralid (4-amino-3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), clopyralid (3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), fluroxypyr ([(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid), triclopyr ([(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid), diclopyr, mecoprop (2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid) and mecoprop-P, dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), quinclorac (3,7-dichloro-8-quinolinecarboxylic acid), aminocyclopyrachlor (6-amino-5-chloro-2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid), agriculturally acceptable salts of any of these herbicides, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof, and mixtures thereof. Dicamba has proven to be a particularly effective auxin herbicide and is typically formulated as the sodium, dimethylamine, isopropylamine or diglycolamine salt.

Volatility and drift problems are commonly associated with auxin herbicides. Volatile auxin herbicides can, under certain conditions of application, vaporize into the surrounding atmosphere and thereby migrate from the application site to adjacent crop plants, such as soybeans and cotton, where contact damage to sensitive plants can occur. Spray drift can be attributed to volatility as well as to the physical movement of small particles, such as spray droplet particles, from the target site to adjacent crop plants.

Prior art solutions to volatility and drift have failed to successfully regulate off-target dicamba movement from the application site. Attempts to reduce volatility have been made by formulating dicamba in the form of various mineral or amine salts. For example, the commercial product CLARITY® (available from BASF) is a formulation comprising the diglycolamine salt of dicamba and the commercial product BANVEL® (available from BASF) is a formulation comprising the dimethylamine salt of dicamba. Problematically however, crop plants such as soybean and cotton or sensitive plants such as vegetables and flowers located in an area wherein CLARITY or BANVEL has been applied can still exhibit symptoms of injury such as leaf cupping, leaf malformation, leaf necrosis, terminal bud kill and/or delayed maturity.

Other attempts to reduce dicamba volatilization have focused on encapsulation. In one approach, dicamba is absorbed into solid phase natural or synthetic polymers. However, the resulting particle sizes are typically not suitable for spray application therefore limiting use to granular drop application. Microencapsulation in a polymer shell is also known in the art, but the relatively high solubility of dicamba and its salts precludes successful use of that technology in aqueous suspensions and commercial dicamba microencapsulation products have not been developed.

A need persists for low volatility auxin herbicide formulations that are efficacious, yet non-phytotoxic to sensitive crops located in areas adjacent to the target site, and for auxin formulations that are less prone to volatility and physical drift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the various aspects of the present invention may be noted the provision of auxin herbicide formulations exhibiting low volatility and/or drift and methods for their use.

Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to an aqueous herbicidal solution concentrate formulation useful for killing or controlling the growth of unwanted plants, the formulation comprising a solution comprising an auxin herbicide component consisting essentially of auxin herbicide salts and comprising at least 50 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba monoethanolamine salt.

The present invention is further directed to an aqueous herbicidal solution concentrate formulation useful for killing or controlling the growth of unwanted plants, the formulation comprising a solution comprising an auxin herbicide component consisting essentially of auxin herbicide salts and comprising at least 550 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba potassium salt.

The present invention is further directed to an aqueous herbicidal solution concentrate formulation useful for killing or controlling the growth of unwanted plants, the formulation comprising an auxin herbicide component consisting essentially of auxin herbicide salts and comprising at least 50 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba diethanolamine salt.

The present invention is further directed to low volatility auxin herbicide formulations comprising an auxin herbicide component consisting essentially of an auxin herbicide salt or a mixture of auxin herbicide salts and a polybasic polymer or mixture of polybasic polymers, wherein the formulation is an aqueous solution. The polymer has a molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons and has a nitrogen content of from 13 to 50 percent by weight

The present invention is further directed to a method of using an auxin herbicide to control auxin-susceptible plants growing in and/or adjacent to a field of crop plants. The method comprises diluting a formulation comprising a solution of (i) at least 50 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba monoethanolamine salt or dicamba diethanolamine salt or at least 550 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba potassium salt with water to provide an aqueous herbicidal application mixture or (ii) forming an aqueous application mixture from a low volatility auxin herbicide formulation comprising an auxin herbicide component consisting essentially of an auxin herbicide salt or a mixture of auxin herbicide salts and a polybasic polymer or mixture of polybasic polymers. The aqueous herbicidal application mixture is applied to the foliage of the auxin-susceptible plants.

The present invention is further directed to a method of reducing the volatility of auxin herbicides. The method comprises providing a nitrogen containing polybasic polymer source for use in preparation of an aqueous herbicidal application mixture comprising an auxin herbicide for application to auxin susceptible plants. The auxin herbicide content of said auxin herbicide consists essentially of the salts of one or more auxin herbicide species. The polybasic polymer has a molecular weight from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons and has a nitrogen content from 10 to 50 percent by weight.

The present invention is still further directed to a method for controlling auxin susceptible plants. The method comprises obtaining a nitrogen containing polybasic polymer source comprising at least one polybasic polymer species, wherein the polybasic polymer has an average molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons and has an average nitrogen content of from 13 to 50 percent by weight and obtaining an auxin herbicide source having a herbicide content consisting essentially of one or more auxin herbicide salt species. The nitrogen containing polybasic polymer source and auxin herbicide source are mixed with water to produce an aqueous auxin application mixture that is applied to the auxin susceptible plants.

The present invention is yet further directed to a method of counseling a person responsible for control of auxin susceptible plants. The method comprises (i) identifying an auxin herbicide source to be used in the preparation of an aqueous auxin application mixture, the auxin herbicides contained in said auxin herbicide source consisting essentially of one or more auxin herbicide salt species, (ii) identifying a nitrogen containing polybasic polymer source comprising at least one polybasic polymer species, wherein the polybasic polymer has an average molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons and has an average nitrogen content of from 13 to 50 percent by weight and (iii) enabling said person to prepare said aqueous auxin application mixture from materials comprising said auxin herbicide source and said nitrogen containing polybasic polymer source for application to said auxin susceptible plants.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph depicting the percent of spray volume for prior art compositions and compositions of the present invention having droplet particle sizes of less than 150 microns and less than 100 microns wherein the prior art and inventive composition solutions contained about 0.56 weight percent acid equivalent dicamba and were sprayed at 165 kPa pressure by means of a flatfan 9501E nozzle.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, auxin herbicide formulations exhibiting low volatility, controlled droplet particle size, reduced physical and reduced vapor drift are provided. As compared to auxin formulations known in the art, it is believed that the formulations of the present invention provide enhanced protection from crop injury to auxin tolerant or resistant crops while maintaining comparably effective herbicidal efficacy on unwanted plants located in the target area. Throughout the remainder of the description of the invention, where reference to the auxin herbicide dicamba is made, one skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention apply generally to auxin herbicides, including those described above, and the invention is not limited to dicamba herbicidal formulations.

In some embodiments of the present invention, formulations and methods are provided that effectively control auxin herbicide release to give both commercially acceptable weed control and a commercially acceptable rate of crop injury. In some other embodiments, the formulations provide enhanced crop protection in over the top application to plants.

In accordance with the present invention, a “commercially acceptable rate of weed control” varies with the weed species, degree of infestation, environmental conditions, and the associated crop plant. Typically, commercially effective weed control is defined as least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or even greater than 95%. Although it is generally preferable from a commercial viewpoint that 80-85% or more of the weeds be destroyed, commercially significant weed control can occur at much lower levels, particularly with some very noxious, herbicide-resistant plants. “Weed control,” as used herein, refers to any observable measure of control of plant growth, which can include one or more of the actions of (1) killing, (2) inhibiting growth, reproduction or proliferation, and (3) removing, destroying, or otherwise diminishing the occurrence and activity of plants. Weed control can be measured by any of the various methods known in the art. For example, weed control can be determined as a percentage as compared to untreated plants following a standard procedure wherein a visual assessment of plant mortality and growth reduction is made by one skilled in the art specially trained to make such assessments. In another control measurement method, control is defined as an average plant weight reduction percentage between treated and untreated plants. Preferably, commercial weed control is achieved at no greater than 30 days after treatment (DAT), such as from 18 to 30 DAT.

A “commercially acceptable rate of crop injury” for the present invention likewise varies with the crop plant species. Typically, a commercially acceptable rate of crop injury is defined less than about 20%, 15%, 10% or even less than about 5%. Crop damage can be measured by any means known in the art, such as those describe above for weed control determination. Preferably, crop damage appears no more than from 10% to 20% at no greater than 30 DAT, such as from 3 to 21 or from 3 to 30 DAT.

The auxin-susceptible plants can be weeds or crop plants. Crop plants include, for example, vegetable crops, grain crops, flowers, root crops and sod. Crop plants of the present invention include hybrids, inbreds, and transgenic or genetically modified plants.

In some embodiments, the crop plants are auxin tolerant species that are not susceptible to auxin herbicides or are a transgenic species that contain an auxin (e.g., dicamba) resistant trait. Examples include dicamba resistant corn, cotton or soybean. Dicamba resistant crops can further comprise one or more additional traits including, without limitation: herbicide resistance (e.g., resistance to other auxin herbicides (e.g., 2,4-D or fluroxypyr), glyphosate, glufosinate, acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides (e.g., imazamox, imazethapyr, imazaquin and imazapic), acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitors (e.g., sethoxydim and clethodim), etc.); insect resistance such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); high oil; high lysine; high starch; nutritional density; and/or drought resistance. In some other embodiments, the weeds and/or crop plants are glyphosate tolerant or contain a glyphosate resistant trait. Examples include glyphosate resistant corn, cotton or soybean. In other embodiments, the crop plants comprise stacked traits such as dicamba and glyphosate resistance; dicamba and glufosinate resistance; dicamba and acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) resistance; dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate resistance; dicamba, glyphosate and ALS or AHAS resistance; dicamba, glufosinate and ALS or AHAS resistance; or dicamba, glyphosate, glufosinate and ALS or AHAS resistance. In other embodiments, the plants can additionally include other herbicide, insect and disease resistance traits, as well as combinations of those traits. For instance, the plants can have dicamba, 2,4-D or fluroxypyr resistant traits.

In some embodiments, low volatility commercially acceptable formulations of auxin herbicides are achieved by combining 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichloroprop, MCPA, MCPB, aminopyralid, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, diclopyr, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, dicamba, picloram, quinclorac, aminocyclopyrachlor, agriculturally acceptable salts of any of these herbicides, racemic mixtures or resolved isomers thereof, or mixtures thereof (i) in aqueous solution with one or more soluble polybasic polymers such as, for example, a polymeric polyamine and/or (ii) by raising the pH of aqueous solutions thereof. Cations for the formation of auxin herbicide salts include, without limitation, sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium, diammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, dimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, methylamine, ethylamine, diglycolamine, propylamine, butylamine, pentylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, decylamine and dodecylamine, and mixtures thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, it has yet been further discovered that the concentration of volatilized auxin herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding a low volatility auxin herbicide formulation comprising an auxin herbicide salt and one or more polybasic polymers is less than the concentration of volatilized auxin herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding a reference formulation formulated in the absence of the polybasic polymer(s), but otherwise having the same formulation as the low volatility auxin herbicide formulation. Based on experimental evidence, the concentration of volatilized dicamba herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding the low volatility dicamba herbicide formulations of the present invention comprising a polybasic polymer has been discovered to be less than 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1 that of the concentration of volatilized dicamba herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding a similarly formulated reference formulation but not containing the polybasic polymer.

Volatilization can be measured by means known to those skilled in the art such as by distilling auxin herbicide compositions and analyzing the distillation condensate and/or distilled composition for auxin content. In another method, a gas stream can be passed over auxin formulations into which the auxin herbicide volatilizes from the formulation. The gas stream can then be quantitatively analyzed for dicamba content by methods known in the art.

In is believed, without being bound to any particular theory, that polybasic polymers reduce auxin salt volatility because dissociated auxin salt forms ionic bonds with the polybasic polymer and binds the auxin in solution. Any residue from a herbicidal application of the auxin, is therefore inhibited from dissociating to the free acid. In the case of dicamba, the free acid is about 100 times more volatile than bound dicamba acid or salt. Furthermore, it is believed that additional localization of an auxin in or around the polymer matrix may be achieved through cation-pi complexation. It is known that ammonium salts form stable cation-pi complexes with the pi systems of aromatic rings. In this case, the ammonium ions of the polymer can form cation-pi or pi-cation-pi complexes with the auxin. This additional complex interaction may further contribute to reduction in volatilization of the auxin. In some embodiments, reduced dicamba volatility in combination with relatively fast dicamba release from the polymer can be achieved by formulating dicamba salts with a polybasic polymer having a relatively weak ion exchange capability. It is believed that low ion exchange capacity polymers retard dicamba salt disassociation to the free acid form thereby reducing volatility, but those polymers do not bind the dicamba strongly enough to retard release rate to an extent that efficacy is reduced. It is further believed that dicamba bound to polymers having relatively strong ion exchange capability would likewise have a reduced volatilization rate as compared to a similarly formulated formulation, but not containing the polymer.

Experimental evidence to date indicates that the polymers do not inhibit dicamba herbicidal effectiveness (i.e., do not decrease the availability of the herbicide to the plant). Even with the auxin herbicide molecule held by either an acid-base and/or cation-pi electron complex, it has been discovered that the biological activity of dicamba is increased as compared to application of the herbicide with no surfactant and is, in fact, generally equivalent to application of the herbicide with a surfactant. This suggests that polymers may increase the availability of dicamba to the plant.

It has been discovered, in some embodiments of the present invention, that polybasic polymers are effective auxin herbicide drift control agents because these polymers, when utilized in aqueous auxin formulations, can reduce the number of spray drops having a diameter of less than about 200 microns, 150 microns, or even 100 microns. It is believed, without being bound to any particular theory, that in addition to reducing auxin volatility, polybasic polymers also function as thickeners or rheological property modifying agents that increase solution viscosity resulting in a greater number of large spray droplet particles in the size distribution and restricting the generation of small droplet particles. For a given velocity, wind will move large droplet particles a shorter distance as compared to smaller droplet particles. Notably, an increase in average spray drop size from about 10 microns to about 150 microns can decrease the lateral distance a droplet particle travels in a light wind after normal spraying by about 300 to 500 meters. Spray droplet particle size can be measured by methods known to those skilled in the art such as phase doppler droplet particle analysis (PDPA).

In order to achieve the benefits of reduced auxin volatility and/or enhanced auxin drift control, polybasic polymers, having from 4 to about 100,000 nitrogen atoms per molecule, from about 15 to about 100,000 nitrogen atoms per molecule, from about 25 to about 100,000 nitrogen atoms per molecule, from about 50 to about 100,000 nitrogen atoms per molecule, or even from about 100 to about 100,000 nitrogen atoms per molecule, or mixtures of polybasic polymers having an average number of nitrogen atoms within the above ranges, are preferred. For polybasic polymers or a combination of polymers, an average nitrogen content of from 10% to about 50% by weight, from 13% to about 50%, from 15% to about 50%, from about 20% to about 50%, from about 30% to about 45% by weight, or even about 30% to about 40% by weight is preferred. Examples of typical polymer molecular weights, or average molecular weight for polymer mixtures, (in Daltons) for the practice of the present invention include 600, 800, 1,300, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, 750,000, 1,000,000, 1,250,000, 1,500,000, 1,750,000, 2,000,000, 2,250,000, 1,500,000, 1,750,000, 2,000,000, 2,250,000, 2,500,000, 2,750,000 or even 3,000,000, and ranges thereof. Polybasic polymers suitable for the practice of the present invention are preferably hydrophilic and have an aqueous solubility of at least 5% v/v, more preferably at least 10% v/v.

Formulations comprising an auxin herbicide salt are generally compatible with polybasic polymers in tank mixes as well as in concentrate formulations. Advantageously therefore, the polybasic polymers of the present invention do not require separate addition into a spray tank. Alternatively however, the polybasic polymers of the present invention can be combined with auxin herbicide formulations before use on plants such as by addition to auxin herbicide concentrate compositions or auxin herbicide tank mixes, or by introducing an auxin herbicide composition and a polybasic polymer or polymer combination as separate feed streams to a spraying or application system so that the feed streams are co-mixed immediately prior to use. A weight ratio of dicamba acid equivalent (a.e.) to polybasic polymer or combination of polymers of from 1:100 to about 100:1, from about 1:50 to about 50:1, from about 1:1 to about 100:1, from about 1:1 to about 50:1, from about 1:1 to about 25:1, from about 1:1 to about 10:1, from about 3:1 to about 10:1 or from about 5:1 to about 10:1 is preferred. In some embodiments of the present invention, formulations contain from about 1% to about 10% v/v total polybasic polyamine and from about 360 to about 750, from about 400 to about 750, from about 450 to about 750, from about 460 to about 750, from about 470 to about 750, from about 480 to about 750, from about 490 to about 750, or from about 500 to about 750 grams a.e. per liter (g a.e./L) dicamba.

Combinations of the above-described polymer nitrogen content, molecular weights, solubilities, concentrations and ratios are within the scope of the present invention.

Auxin herbicide salts are generally preferred as compared to the acid form for combination with polybasic polymers. Suitable cations for auxin herbicide salts include, for example and without restriction, DMA, MEA, DEA, triethanolamine (TEA), potassium, sodium, IPA and DGA. In some embodiments of the present invention, the auxin herbicide component of the formulation consists essentially of auxin herbicide salts. In dicamba embodiments, MEA, DEA and potassium dicamba are preferred because they are believed to be compatible with polybasic polymers such as polymeric polyamines, such that high concentrations in aqueous solution can be achieved while volatility is low as compared to other dicamba salt formulations that do not contain the polymer and without requiring the pH of the formulation to be 9 or greater.

In other embodiments, in the case of dicamba, low volatility can be achieved by formulating dicamba as the monoethanolamine or diethanolamine salt. It has been discovered that the MEA and diethanolamine (DEA) salts of dicamba are less volatile than other dicamba salts, such as the DMA and IPA salts, known in the art. In particular, the concentration of volatilized dicamba in the vapor phase surrounding the aqueous dicamba MEA or DEA concentrate formulation is less than the concentration of volatilized dicamba in the vapor phase surrounding a reference formulation formulated from dicamba salts known in the art such as dimethylamine dicamba, isopropylamine dicamba, or mixtures thereof, but otherwise having the same composition as the dicamba MEA concentrate formulation. Distillation studies of solutions of the MEA, sodium, potassium, DGA and IPA dicamba salts show that dicamba salts having relatively volatile cations, such as or IPA, have comparably greater dicamba volatilization than do dicamba salts having less volatile cations, such as sodium, potassium, MEA or DEA. The concentration of volatilized dicamba herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding an MEA dicamba formulation has been discovered to be from 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or ranges thereof, that of the concentration of volatilized dicamba herbicide in the vapor phase surrounding similarly formulated IPA dicamba. Experimental measurements of dicamba concentration in the gas phase above dicamba salt aqueous solutions show that the gas phase dicamba concentration associated with an MEA dicamba aqueous solution is typically less than the gas phase concentration associated with a comparative solution of dicamba acid or the IPA or DMA dicamba salts, wherein the comparative solution otherwise has the same formulation as the MEA dicamba salt solution. In particular, it has been discovered that the gas phase dicamba concentration associated with MEA dicamba is about 2, 5, 10, 15 or 20 times less than the gas phase dicamba concentration associated with DMA dicamba and about 7 to 8 times less than the gas phase dicamba concentration associated with IPA dicamba in otherwise similarly formulated formulations.

It is further believed that the amount of dicamba volatilizing from an aqueous solution of the sodium, potassium, MEA or DEA salt can also be a function of pH, with volatilization varying inversely with pH. In general, dicamba volatility decreases with increasing pH. Without being bound to any particular theory and based on experimental evidence to date, the pH dependent trend may be explained by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, (pH=pKa+log [HA/A−]) where HA represents the concentration of acidic species with an associated hydrogen and A⁻ represents the concentration of the deprotonated basic species. As the pH is increased, there is more ionization of dicamba acid (more dissociation) resulting in a lower vapor pressure. This helps to explain the disparity observed in the volatility between dicamba acid and the dicamba salts, and also the difference in volatility between salts at low pH versus salts at high pH. The increased ionization with the salts and the increased dissociation at the higher pHs may lead to a lower vapor pressure and therefore lower volatility. A pH of from about 4 to about 11, from about 5 to about 10, or from about 7 to about 9 is preferred for any of the various dicamba salts. It is believed that the polybasic polymers of the present invention function as pH buffers thereby maintaining a nearly constant pH value in the dicamba compositions of the present invention, even upon the addition of a small amount of acid. The buffering effect therefore assists in maintaining low vapor pressure and low volatility by resisting pH changes into the acidic range.

In accordance with the present invention, and based on experimental evidence, it has been further discovered that the monoethanolamine (MEA) salt of dicamba provides higher aqueous solubility and lower viscosity as compared to dicamba acid and other dicamba salts known in the art, such as the dimethylamine (DMA) and isopropylamine (IPA) salts. As indicated in Table A below, MEA salt aqueous solubility at 20° C. is about 66.1 weight percent a.e. (wt % a.e.), or about 885 grams acid equivalent per liter (g a.e./L) as compared to 54.6 wt % a.e. (720 g a.e./L) and 56.5 wt % a.e. (700 g a.e./L) for potassium dicamba and diglycolamine (DGA) dicamba, respectively. The DMA salt of dicamba is believed to have a solubility at 20° C. of about 45 wt % a.e. (600 g a.e./L).

TABLE A Dicamba wt % a.e. @20° C. Approximate g a.e./L @20° C. acid 0.4 4.5 sodium salt 36.3 364 potassium salt 54.6 720 DGA salt 56.5 700 MEA salt 66.1 885

In some embodiments of the present invention, MEA, potassium and DEA dicamba tank mix formulations are provided. The tank mix formulations preferably comprise from about 0.1 to about 50 g a.e./L, such as 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25 or 50 g a.e./L, and ranges thereof.

In some other embodiments, of the present invention, MEA dicamba concentrate formulations are provided. The concentrate formulations preferably comprise at least 50 g a.e./L, such as from about 50 to about 885, from about 100 to about 885, from about 200 to about 885, from about 300 to about 885, from about 400 to about 885, from about 500 to about 885, from about 550 to about 885, or from about 600 to about 885 g a.e./L MEA dicamba. For example, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850 or 885 g a.e./L, and ranges thereof.

In some other embodiments, of the present invention, potassium dicamba concentrate formulations are provided. The concentrate formulations preferably comprise at least 550 g a.e./L, such as from about 550 to about 720, or from about 600 to about 720 g a.e./L potassium dicamba. For example, 550, 600, 650, 700 or 720 g a.e./L, and ranges thereof.

In some other embodiments, of the present invention, DEA dicamba concentrate formulations are provided. The concentrate formulations preferably comprise at least 50 g a.e./L, from about 50 to about 720, from about 100 to about 720, from about 200 to about 720, from about 300 to about 720, from about 400 to about 720, from about 500 to about 720, from about 550 to about 720, or from about 600 to about 720 g a.e./L DEA dicamba. For example, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, or 720 g a.e./L, and ranges thereof.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, mixed dicamba salt compositions comprising at least one of the MEA, DEA or potassium salt are provided. In addition to the MEA, DEA and potassium dicamba salts, suitable salts include the sodium, ammonium, lithium, diammonium, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, DMA, diethylamine, triethylamine, methylamine, ethylamine, DGA, propylamine (such as IPA or n-propyl), butylamine, pentylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, dodecylamine and decylamine dicamba salts. More preferably, the mixed salts include two or more dicamba salts selected from the MEA, DEA, sodium, potassium, IPA, DGA and DMA salts, wherein at least one salt is the MEA, DEA or potassium salt of dicamba. A weight ratio of the MEA, DEA and/or potassium dicamba salt to the sum of the other salts of no greater than about 20:1, such as 20:1, 10:1, 5:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, 1:10 and ranges thereof, is preferred, more preferably from 20:1 to about 1:10, from about 20:1 to about 1:5, from about 20:1 to 1:1, or from about 20:1 to about 5:1. The total dicamba concentration for the mixed salt compositions on an acid equivalent basis is at least about 52.5, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 480, 500, 520, 540, 560, 575, 580, 600, 620, 640, 660, 680 or 700 grams per liter, and ranges thereof. For any given dicamba salt and concentration thereof, one skilled in the art can readily determine using routine experimentation a minimum ratio of the dicamba salts (i.e. a lower limit from the upper limit of 20:1) that is necessary to achieve the objects of the invention in view of the other components of the formulation, such as a co-herbicide component, polybasic polymer component and/or surfactant component and their respective concentrations.

It has yet been further discovered that MEA dicamba concentrate formulations are only moderately irritating to eyes at a pH of about 8. Eye irritation measurement can be done according to the methods provided in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Health Effects Test Guidelines (for example, OPPTS 870.2400 Acute Eye Irritation, August 1998). MEA dicamba formulations are generally classified in the eye irritation (rabbit) FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) category III (moderate irritation).

In some embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer is a polymeric polyamine, polymeric polyimine, nitrogen-substituted vinyl polymer, polyoxazoline, polymeric polypeptide, polymeric polyamide, polypropyleneimine dendrimer, polyethyleneimine dendrimer or a polyamidoamine dendrimer. Combinations thereof are also within the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer is a polymeric polyamine. Polymeric polyamines include, for instance, polyethyleneimines, polyalkoxylated polyamines, and combinations thereof. Particular polymeric polyamines include benzylated polyamines, ethoxylated polyamines, propoxylated polyamines, alkylated polyamines, esterified polyamines and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the polymeric polyamines have structure (1):

wherein each R₁ is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or a cyclic group; each R₂ is independently an alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl, each R₃ is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and x is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000. R₁ is preferably independently hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R₂ is preferably independently ethylene or C₆ arylene, R₃ is preferably independently hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and x is preferably selected to give a linear polyimine having a molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons. Examples of polymeric polyamines include polyaniline wherein R₂ is C₆ arylene and R₃ is hydrogen and poly(ethylene imine) wherein R₂ is ethylene and R₃ is hydrogen

In some embodiments of the present invention, the polymeric polyamine is a polymeric polyimine compound (hereafter referred to as “polyimines”) selected from linear polyimines and branched polyimines having a molecular weight of from about 800 to about 3,000,000 Daltons.

Linear polyimines typically have structure (2):

wherein each R₁₀ is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group; each R₂₀ is independently an alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; each R₃₀ is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms wherein R₃₀ substitution occurs at any of the R₂₀ carbon atoms; and x is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000. R₁₀ is preferably independently hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R₂₀ is preferably ethylene, R₃₀ is preferably independently hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and x is preferably selected to give a linear polyimine having a molecular weight of from 800 to 3,000,000 Daltons.

Branched polyimines typically have structure (3):

wherein each R₁₀ is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group; each R₂₀ is independently an alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and y is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000. Each R₃₀ is independently hydrogen or an amine of formula (4):

—R₄₀—NR₄₁R₄₂  (4)

wherein at least one R₃₀ is of formula (4) and wherein R₄₀ is an alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R₄₁ and R₄₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and an amine of formula (5):

wherein R₅₀ is an alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R₅₁ and R₅₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and each z is independently from 0 to 5. R₅₀ is preferably ethylene, R₅₁ and R₅₂ are preferably independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. The sum of y and z are preferably selected to give a branched polyimine having a molecular weight of from 800 to 3,000,000 Daltons.

Also included within the scope of polymeric polyimines are polynitriles of structure (6):

wherein each R₆₀ is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group; each R₆₁ is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and x is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000 selected to yield a molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons.

Representative polyimines and polymeric polyimines include, but are not limited to, compounds of structures (7) and (8):

wherein x is the degree of polymerization. Formula (8) is generally representative of Lupasol® polyimine polymers available from BASF.

Representative commercially available polyimines are shown in Table B below where Epomin® is commercially available from Aceto Corp.; “MW” refers to the average molecular weight in Daltons; “Visc.” refers to viscosity in mPa at 20° C.; “Pour Pt.” refers to the pour point in ° C.; “Density” refers to the density in grams per mL measured at 20° C.; and “Ratio” refers to the ratio of primary:secondary:tertiary amine nitrogens:

TABLE B Polyimine MW Visc. Pour Pt. Density Ratio LUPASOL FG 800 800 −3 1.09 1:0.82:0.53 LUPASOL 20 wfr 1,300 5,000 −16 1.03 1:0.91:0.64 LUPASOL PR 2,000 75,000 −9 1.05 1:0.92:0.70 8515 LUPASOL WF 25,000 200,000 −3 1.1 1:1.2:0.76  LUPASOL FC 800 250 −24 1.08 1:0.86:0.42 LUPASOL G20 1,300 350 −24 1.08 1:0.9:0.64  LUPASOL G35 2,000 450 −18 1.08 1:0.94:0.67 LUPASOL G100 5,000 1,200 −18 1.08 1:1.05:0.76 LUPASOL G500 25,000 1,000 No Data No Data No Data LUPASOL HF 25,000 14,000 −20 1.08 1:1.2:0.76  LUPASOL P 750,000 500,000 −3 1.09 1:1.07:0.77 LUPASOL PS 750,000 1,400 −5 No Data 1:1.07:0.77 LUPASOL SK 2,000,000 750 0 1.06 No Data LUPASOL SNA 1,000,000 500 0 1.06 No Data LUPASOL HEO1 13,000 200 No Data No Data No Data LUPASOL PN50 1,000,000 6,000 No Data No Data No Data LUPASOL PO100 5,000 300 No Data No Data No Data EPOMIN 006 600 No Data No Data No Data No Data EPOMIN 012 1,200 No Data No Data No Data No Data EPOMIN 018 1,800 No Data No Data No Data No Data EPOMIN 1000 100,000 No Data No Data No Data No Data Aldrich 408727 25,000 No Data No Data 1.03 No Data

In some embodiments, polyalkylenimines can be functionalized by reaction with one or more alkylene oxides to form the hydroxyalkylated derivative. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,845 (to Manek et al.), a hydroxyalkylated derivative may be prepared by heating an aqueous solution of polyalkylenimine with the desired amount of alkylene oxide at a temperature of about 80° C. to about 135° C., optionally in the presence of an alkali metal catalyst such as sodium methoxide, potassium tert-butoxide, potassium or sodium hydroxide. In some embodiments, the polyalkylenimine is functionalized by reaction with ethylene oxide and/or optionally propylene oxide. In other embodiments, the polyalkylenimine is functionalized by reaction with about 1 to about 100 molar equivalents of ethylene oxide per ethylene unit in the polyalkylenimine. In still other embodiments, the polyalkylenimine is functionalized by reaction with about 1 to about 100 molar equivalents of ethylene oxide and about 1 to about 100 molar equivalents of propylene oxide per ethylene unit in the polyalkylenimine. In yet other embodiments, the polyalkylenimine is reacted first with the propylene oxide and subsequently with the ethylene oxide. For example, in some embodiments, the polyalkylenimine is functionalized by reaction with about 5 to about 25 molar equivalents of ethylene oxide and about 85 to about 98 molar equivalents of propylene oxide per ethylene unit in the polyalkylenimine.

Examples of commercial oxyalkylated polyalkylenimines include Lupasol SC-61B and Lupasol SK (available from BASF), and Kemelex 3550X, 3423X, 3546X, D600 and 3582X (available from Uniquema, New Castle, Del., USA).

Lupasol SC-61B is believed to be a hydroxylated (ethoxylated) polyethylenimine of formula (9):

wherein R₉₀ is hydrogen or a continuation of the polymer chain and x is a value required to yield a molecular weight of about 110,000 Daltons.

In some embodiments of the present invention the polybasic polymers are dendritic polymers (for example, starburst polymers), characterized as repeatedly branched molecules having attached functional groups distributed on the periphery of the branches thereby providing a highly functionalized surface. Preferred dendritic polymers are polypropyleneimine dendrimers, polyethyleneimine dendrimers, and polyamidoamine dendrimers. A molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 1,000,000 is preferred, representing from 1 to about 10 generation growth steps.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer is a nitrogen-substituted vinyl polymer.

Vinyl polymers include polyvinyl acrylamides of formula (10):

wherein each R₁₀₀ is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group; R₁₀₁ is a nitrogen-containing moiety; and x is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000. In some embodiments, R₁₀₁ is acrylamide (—C(O)NH₂), allylamine (—CH₂NH₂), pyridine, pyrazine, pyrazole or pyrazoline. The polyacrylamides can comprise cationic monomers such as, for example, dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate methyl chloride, dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate methyl chloride, acrylamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, methacryl amodopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. Examples of vinyl polymers include poly(vinyl pyridine), depicted in formula (12) comprising the monomer poly(2-vinyl pyridine):

and polyvinyl acrylamide comprising the monomer depicted in formula (13):

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer is a polyamide.

Polyamide polymers include polymeric acrylamides comprising the repeating unit of general formula (14):

wherein each R₁₄₀ is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, each R₁₄₁ is independently alkylene having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or arylene, each r is independently 0 or 1, and x is a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 70,000.

Examples of polyamide polymers include polyisocyanates comprising the repeating unit of formula (15):

and polylactams comprising the repeating unit of formula (16):

wherein m is from 1 to 6.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer material is a polyoxazoline comprising the repeating unit of formula (17):

wherein R₁₇₀ is a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; R₁₇₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl that does not significantly decrease the water-solubility of the polymer; and n is an integer which provides the polymer with a molecular weight of from 600 to 3,000,000 Daltons. R₁₇₀ may be substituted with hydroxy, amide or polyether. R₁₇₀ is preferably methylene, ethylene, propylene, isopropylene or butylene. R₁₇₀ is most preferably ethylene. R₁₇₁ is preferably alkyl or aryl; R₁₇₁ may be substituted with hydroxy, amide or polyether. Preferably R₁₇₁ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, or isobutyl. Most preferably R₁₇₀ is ethylene and R₁₇₁ is ethyl.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the polybasic polymer is a polymeric polypeptide (poly α-amino acid) comprising the repeating unit of formula (18):

wherein each R₁₈₀ is independently selected from a side chain specific to amino acids, indicated in parentheses below. For instance, R₁₈₀ may be hydrogen (glycine), —CH₃ (alanine), —CH(CH₃)₂ (valine), —CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ (leucine), —CH(CH₃)(CH₂CH₃) (isoleucine), —(CH₂)₄NH₂ (lysine), —CH₂OH (serine), —CH(OH)(CH₃) (threonine), etc., and x is selected to provide a molecular weight between 600 and 3,000,000 Daltons. In some embodiments, polar R₁₈₀ groups are preferred to provide greater water solubility. Polar amino acids include arginine, aspargine, aspartic acid, cysteine (slightly polar), glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine, lysine, serine, threonine, tryptophan (slightly polar) and tyrosine.

Any of the polymers described above for formulae (7) through (18) can be terminated with a head group independently selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group.

In some embodiments of the present invention, surfactants can optionally be used in auxin herbicide formulations to effectively enhance herbicidal effectiveness. In some other embodiments, solubilizers can be optionally be used to enhance polybasic polymer aqueous solubility. In some embodiments, a compound can function as both an efficacy enhancer and a solubilizer. Typically, at low concentrations relative to the auxin herbicide component (i.e., a high weight ratio of auxin a.e. to surfactant, for example in excess of about 20:1), such compounds may enhance polybasic polymer solubility but not effectively provide herbicidal efficacy enhancement. Conversely, at higher concentrations relative to the auxin herbicide component, such compound may both enhance herbicidal efficacy and polyamine polymer solubility.

Surfactants are optionally included in auxin (dicamba) formulations to facilitate dicamba retention, uptake and translocation into the plant foliage and thereby enhance herbicidal effectiveness. It has been discovered that the polymeric polyamines of the present invention are at least as effective as surfactants for foliar retention, uptake and translocation of dicamba. Efficacious dicamba formulations containing polymeric polyamines or other polybasic polymers, with or without a surfactant, are therefore within the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more herbicidal efficacy enhancing surfactants known in the art can optionally be formulated with dicamba. It has been discovered that MEA dicamba formulations are compatible with most water soluble surfactants. A weight ratio of dicamba a.e. to surfactant of from 1:1 to 20:1. from 2:1 to 10:1 or from 3:1 to 8:1 is preferred.

Alkoxylated tertiary etheramine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (19):

wherein R₁₉₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; each R₁₉₂ is a hydrocarbylene independently having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; m is an average number from about 1 to about 10; R₁₉₃ and R₁₉₄ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 60.

R₁₉₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, or from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, or from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms. Sources of the R₁₉₁ group include, for example, coco or tallow, or R₁₉₁ may be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyls, such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl groups. Each R₁₉₂ may independently be propylene, isopropylene, or ethylene, and m is preferably from about 1 to 5, such as 2 to 3. R₁₉₃ and R₁₉₄ may be ethylene, propylene, isopropylene, and are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, such as from about 2 to 10, or about 2 to 5. In some embodiments, the sum of x and y is preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15.

Specific alkoxylated tertiary etheramine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention include, for example, any of the TOMAH E-Series surfactants, such as TOMAH E-14-2 (bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) isodecyloxypropylamine), TOMAH E-14-5 (poly (5) oxyethylene isodecyloxypropylamine), TOMAH E-17-2, TOMAH E-17-5 (poly (5) oxyethylene isotridecyloxypropyl amine), TOMAH E-19-2, TOMAH E-18-2, TOMAH E-18-5 (poly (5) oxyethylene octadecylamine), TOMAH E-18-15, TOMAH E-19-2 (bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) linear alkyloxypropylamine), TOMAH E-S-2, TOMAH E-S-15, TOMAH E-T-2 (bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) tallow amine), TOMAH E-T-5 (poly (5) oxyethylene tallow amine), and TOMAH E-T-15 (poly (15) oxyethylene tallow amine). Another example is Surfonic AGM 550 available from Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation wherein, for formula (9), R₁₉₁ is C₁₂₋₁₄, R₁₉₂ is isopropyl, m is 2, R₁₉₃ and R₁₉₄ are each ethylene, and x+y is 5.

Alkoxylated quaternary etheramine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (20):

wherein R₂₀₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; Each R₂₀₂ is independently a hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; m is an average number from about 1 to about 10; R₂₀₃ and R₂₀₄ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 60. R₂₀₅ is preferably a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, more preferably methyl. A is a charge balancing counter-anion, such as sulfate, chloride, bromide, nitrate, among others.

R₂₀₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, or from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, or from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms. Sources of the R₂₀₁ group include, for example, coco or tallow, or R₂₀₁ may be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyls, such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl groups. Each R₂₀₂ may independently be propylene, isopropylene, or ethylene, and m is preferably from about 1 to 5, such as 2 to 3. R₂₀₃ and R₂₀₄ may be ethylene, propylene, isopropylene, and are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, such as from about 2 to 10, or about 2 to 5. In some embodiments, the sum of x and y is preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15.

Specific alkoxylated quaternary etheramine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention include, for example, TOMAH Q-14-2, TOMAH Q-17-2, TOMAH Q-17-5, TOMAH Q-18-2, TOMAH Q-S, TOMAH Q-S-80, TOMAH Q-D-T, TOMAH Q-DT-HG, TOMAH Q-C-15, and TOMAH Q-ST-50.

Alkoxylated etheramine oxide surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (21):

wherein R₂₁₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; Each R₂₁₂ is independently a hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; m is an average number from about 1 to about 10; R₂₁₃ and R₂₁₄ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 60.

R₂₁₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, or from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, or from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms. Sources of the R₂₁₁ group include, for example, coco or tallow, or R₂₁₁ may be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyls, such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl groups. R₂₁₂ may be propylene, isopropylene, or ethylene, and m is preferably from about 1 to 5, such as 2 to 3. Each R₂₁₃ and R₂₁₄ is independently ethylene, propylene, isopropylene, and are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, such as from about 2 to 10, or about 2 to 5. In some embodiments, the sum of x and y is preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15.

Specific alkoxylated etheramine oxide surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention include, for example, any of the TOMAH AO-series of surfactants, such as TOMAH AO-14-2, TOMAH AO-728, TOMAH AO-17-7, TOMAH AO-405, and TOMAH AO-455.

Alkoxylated tertiary amine oxide surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (22):

wherein R₂₂₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₂₂₂ and R₂₂₃ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms, and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 50.

R₂₂₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, for example coco or tallow. R₂₂₁ is most preferably tallow. R₂₂₂ and R₂₂₃ are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, more preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15.

Specific alkoxylated tertiary amine oxide surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention include, for example, any of the AROMOX series of surfactants, including AROMOX C/12, AROMOX C/12W, AROMOX DMC, AROMOX DM16, AROMOX DMHT, and AROMOX T/12 DEG.

Alkoxylated tertiary amine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (23):

wherein R₂₃₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₂₃₂ and R₂₃₃ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms, and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 50.

R₂₃₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, for example coco or tallow. R₁ is most preferably tallow. R₂₃₂ and R₂₃₃ are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, more preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15.

Specific alkoxylated tertiary amine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention include, for example, Ethomeen T/12, Ethomeen T/20, Ethomeen T/25, Ethomeen T/30, Ethomeen T/60, Ethomeen C/12, Ethomeen C/15, and Ethomeen C/25, each of which are available from Akzo Nobel.

Alkoxylated quaternary amine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (24):

wherein R₂₄₁, R₂₄₂, R₂₄₃, x and y are as described above for the alkoxylated tertiary amine surfactants of structure (II), i.e., R₂₄₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₂₄₂ and R₂₄₃ are each independently hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms, and the sum of x and y is an average value ranging from about 2 to about 50. R₂₄₄ is preferably a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, more preferably methyl. X is a charge balancing counter-anion, such as sulfate, chloride, bromide, nitrate, among others.

R₂₄₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbons atoms, for example coco or tallow. R₂₄₁ is most preferably tallow. R₂₄₂ and R₂₄₃ are preferably ethylene. The sum of x and y is preferably an average value ranging from about 2 to about 22, more preferably between about 10 and about 20, for example, about 15. Specific alkoxylated quaternary amine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention include, for example, Ethoquad T/12, Ethoquad T/20, Ethoquad T/25, Ethoquad C/12, Ethoquad C/15, and Ethoquad C/25, each of which are available from Akzo Nobel.

An example of an alkoxylated polyamine surfactant for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention is a surfactant having the general structure (25):

wherein R₂₅₁ is an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing 6 to 25 carbon atoms and from 0 to 3 carbon-carbon double bonds; R₂₅₂ is —OCH₂CH₂CH₂—, —C(═O)OCH₂CH₂—, —C(═O)NHCH₂CH₂CH₂—, or —CH₂—; each occurrence of R₂₅₄ is independently —H, —OC(═O)R₁, —SO₃ ⁻A⁺ or —CH₂C(═O)O⁻A⁺ wherein A⁺ is an alkali metal cation, ammonium or H+; each occurrence of a is from 3 to 8; each R₂₅₃ is independently ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl; d, e, f and g are each independently from 1 to 20, b is from 0 to 10, c is 0 or 1, the sum of (c+d+e+f) is from (3+b) to 20, and the molecular weight is no more than about 800. The surfactants of formula (25) can optionally be in the form of a cation where one or more nitrogen atoms is additionally substituted with hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl or benzyl and one or more anions, equal in number to the number of said additionally substituted nitrogen atoms and being selected from chloride, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate. The surfactants of formula (25) can further optionally be in the form of amine oxides.

Examples of specific alkoxylated polyamine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention are described in described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,046 (to Arif). Alkoxylated polyamine surfactants include, for example, ethoxylates of Adogen 560 (N-coco propylene diamine) containing an average of from 2EO to 20EO, for example, 4.8, 10 or 13.4EO; ethoxylates of Adogen 570 (N-tallow propylene diamine) containing an average of form 2EO to 20EO, for example, 13EO; and ethoxylates of Adogen 670 (N-tallow propylene triamine) containing an average of from 3EO to 20EO, for example, 14.9EO all of which are available from Witco Corp.

Other polyamine surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (26):

wherein R₂₆₁ is C₈₋₂₀, R₂₆₂ is C₁₋₄ and n is 2 or 3. Examples of polyamines for use in the formulations and methods of the present invention include Triamine C(R₂₆₁ is coco (C₁₀₋₁₄)), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 500-525), Triamine OV (R₂₆₁ is oleyl (vegetable oil), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 400-420), Triamine T (R₂₆₁ is tallow (C₁₆₋₁₈), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 415-440), Triamine YT (R₂₆₁ is tallow (C₁₆₋₁₈), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 390-415), Triameen Y12D (R₂₆₁ is dodecyl (C₁₂), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg HCl/g is 112-122), Triameen Y12D-30 (R₂₆₁ is dodecyl (C₁₂), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 2 and amine number (total mg HCl/g is 335-365), Tetrameen OV (R₂₆₁ is oleyl (vegetable oil), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 3 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 470-500), Tetrameen T (R₂₆₁ is tallow (C₁₆₋₁₈), R₂₆₂ is C₃, n is 3 and amine number (total mg KOH/g) is 470-495), wherein each is available from Akzo Nobel.

Sulfate surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (27a-c):

wherein compounds of formula (27a) are alkyl sulfates, compounds of formula (27b) are alkyl ether sulfates and compounds of formula (27c) are alkyl aryl ether sulfates. R₂₇₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, each R₂₇₂ is independently ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl and n is from 1 to about 20. M is selected from an alkali metal cation, ammonium, an ammonium compound or H⁺. Examples of alkyl sulfates include sodium C₈₋₁₀ sulfate, sodium C₁₀₋₁₆ sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium C₁₄₋₁₆ sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate. Examples of alkyl ether sulfates include sodium C₁₂₋₁₅ pareth sulfate (1 EO), ammonium C₆₋₁₀ alcohol ether sulfate (3 EO), sodium C₆₋₁₀ alcohol ether sulfate (3 EO), isopropylammonium C₆₋₁₀ alcohol ether sulfate (3 EO), ammonium C₁₀₋₁₂ alcohol ether sulfate (3 EO), sodium lauryl ether sulfate (3 EO). Examples of alkyl aryl ether sulfates include sodium nonylphenol ethoxylate sulfate (4 EO), sodium nonylphenol ethoxylate sulfate (10 EO), Witcolate™ 1247H (C₆₋₁₀, 3EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE 7093 (C₆₋₁₀, 3EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE 7259 (C₈₋₁₀ sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE 1276 (C₁₀₋₁₂, 5EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE LES-60A (C₁₂₋₁₄, 3EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE LES-60C (C₁₂₋₁₄, 3EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE 1050 (C₁₂₋₁₅, 10EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE WAQ (C₁₂₋₁₆ sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE D-51-51 (nonylphenol 4EO, sodium sulfate) and WITCOLATE D-51-53 (nonylphenol 10EO, sodium sulfate).

Sulfonate surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention correspond to sulfate structures (27a) through (27c) above except the R-substituted moiety is attached directly to the sulfur atom, for instance R₂₇₁SO₃ ⁻. Examples of sulfonate surfactants include, for example, Witconate™ 93S (isopropylamine of dodecylbenzene sulfonate), WITCONATE NAS-8 (octyl sulfonic acid, sodium salt), WITCONATE AOS (tetradecyl/hexadecyl sulfonic acid, sodium salt), WITCONATE 60T (linear dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, triethanolamine salt) and WITCONATE 605a (branched dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, N-butylamine salt).

Phosphate esters of alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general monoester structure (28a) and the general diester structure (28b):

wherein R₂₈₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; R₂₈₂ is a hydrocarbylene having 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; m is an average number from about 1 to about 60; and R₂₈₃ and R₂₈₄ are each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched chain alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

R₂₈₁ is preferably an alkyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, or an alkylphenyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. Sources of the R₂₈₁ group include, for example, coco or tallow, or R₂₈₁ may be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyls, such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl groups. R₂₈₂ may be propylene, isopropylene, or ethylene, and is preferably ethylene. m is preferably from about 9 to about 15. R₂₈₃ and R₂₈₄ are preferably hydrogen.

Specific phosphate esters of alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulation of the present invention include, for example, EMPHOS CS-121, EMPHOS PS-400, and WITCONATE D-51-29, available from Witco Corp. Other examples are indicated in table C below for the Phospholan produces (available from Akzo Nobel) wherein the surfactants may comprise a mixture of the monoester and diester forms and wherein R₂₈₄ is not present in the diester as indicated and “prop.” refers to proprietary and “NR” refers to not reported. In some embodiments, the phosphate esters of the general monoester structure (28a) and the general diester structure (28b) are not alkoxylated, i.e., m is 0. Examples of commercial products include Phospholan PS-900 and Phospholan 3EA.

TABLE C mono R₂₈₃/ and di Tradename R₂₈₁ R₂₈₂ R₂₈₄ m forms Phospholan nonyl phenol C₂ H 6 mono CS-131 & di Phospholan nonyl phenol C₂ H 6 high CS-1361 mono & di Phospholan nonyl phenol C₂ H 10 mono CS-141 & di Phospholan nonyl phenol C₂ H 8 mono CS-147 & di Phospholan KPE4 prop. prop. prop. prop. mono Phospholan PS-131 tridecyl C₂ H NR NR Phospholan PS-220 decyl/tetradecyl C₂ H 30 mono & di Phospholan PS-222 dodecyl/pentadecyl C₂ H 3 mono & di Phospholan PS-236 decyl/dodecyl C₂ H 7 mono & di Phospholan PS-900 tridecyl alcohol — H — mono & di Phospholan TS-230 phenyl C₂ H 7 mono & di Phospholan 3EA triethanolamine — H — mono amine

Alkyl polysaccharide surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (29):

R₂₉₁—O-(sug)_(u)  (29)

wherein R₂₉₁ is a straight or branched chain substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkylphenyl, alkenylphenyl having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein sug and u are as defined above. In various particular embodiments the polysaccharide surfactant may be an alkyl polyglucoside of formula (29) wherein: R₂₉₁ is a branched or straight chain alkyl group preferably having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, or a mixture of alkyl groups having an average value within the given range; sug is a glucose residue; and u is between 1 and about 5, and more preferably between 1 and about 3.

Examples of surfactants of formula (29) are known in the art. Representative surfactants are presented in Table D below wherein for each surfactant sug is a glucose residue.

TABLE D Trade name R₂₉₁ U APG 225 C₈₋₁₂ alkyl 1.7 APG 325 C₉₋₁₁ alkyl 1.5 APG 425 C₈₋₁₆ alkyl 1.6 APG 625 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.6 GLUCOPON 600 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.4 PLANTAREN 600 C₁₂₋₁₄ alkyl 1.3 PLANTAREN 1200 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.4 PLANTAREN 1300 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.6 PLANTAREN 2000 C₈₋₁₆ alkyl 1.4 Agrimul PG 2076 C₈₋₁₀ alkyl 1.5 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 8105) Agrimul PG 2067 C₈₋₁₀ alkyl 1.7 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 8107) Agrimul PG 2072 C₈₋₁₆ alkyl 1.6 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 816) Agrimul PG 2069 C₉₋₁₁ alkyl 1.6 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 9116) Agrimul PG 2062 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.4 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 264) Agrimul PG 2065 C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl 1.6 (synonymous with AGNIQUE PG 266) BEROL AG6202 2-ethyl-1-hexyl

Alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for use in the herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (30):

R₃₀₁O—(R₃₀₂O)_(x)R₃₀₃  (30)

wherein R₃₀₁ is hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, R₃₀₂ in each of the (R₃₀₂O)_(x) groups is independently C₂-C₄ alkylene, R₃₀₃ is hydrogen, or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and x is an average number from 1 to about 60. In this context, preferred R₃₀₁ hydrocarbyl groups are linear or branched alkyl, linear or branched alkenyl, linear or branched alkynyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups. Preferably, R₃₀₁ is a linear or branched alkyl or linear or branched alkenyl group having from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms, R₃₀₂ in each of the (R₃₀₂O)_(x) groups is independently C₂-C₄ alkylene, R₃₀₃ is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, and x is an average number from about 5 to about 50. More preferably, R₃₀₁ is a linear or branched alkyl group having from about 8 to about 25 carbon atoms, R₃₀₂ in each of the (R₃₀₂O)_(x) groups is independently ethylene or propylene, R₃₀₃ is hydrogen or methyl, and x is an average number from about 8 to about 40. Even more preferably, R₃₀₁ is a linear or branched alkyl group having from about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₃₀₂ in each of the (R₃₀₂O)_(x) groups is independently ethylene or propylene, R₃₀₃ is hydrogen or methyl, and x is an average number from about 8 to about 30. Preferred commercially available alkoxylated alcohols include: Emulgin™ L, Procol™ LA-15 (from Protameen); Brij™ 35, Brij™ 56, Brij™ 76, Brij™ 78, Brij™ 97, Brij™ 98 and Tergitol™ XD (from Sigma Chemical Co.); Neodol™ 25-12 and Neodol™ 45-13 (from Shell); Hetoxol™ CA-10, Hetoxol™ CA-20, Hetoxol™ CS-9, Hetoxol™ CS-15, Hetoxol™ CS-20, Hetoxol™ CS-25, Hetoxol™ CS-30, Plurafac™ A38 and Plurafac™ LF700 (from BASF); ST-8303 (from Cognis); Arosurf™ 66 E10 and Arosurf™ 66 E20 (from Witco/Crompton); ethoxylated (9.4 EO) tallow, propoxylated (4.4 EO) tallow and alkoxylated (5-16 EO and 2-5 PO) tallow (from Witco/Crompton). Also preferred are; SURFONIC™ NP95 of Huntsman (a polyoxyethylene (9.5) nonylphenol); TERGITOL series from Dow and commercially available from Sigma-Aldrich Co. (Saint Louis, Mo.), including TERGITOL-15-S-5, TERGITOL-15-S-9, TERGITOL-15-S-12 and TERGITOL-15-S-15 (made from secondary, linear C₁₁ to C₁₅ alcohols with an average of 5 moles, 9 moles, 12.3 moles and 15.5 moles of ethoxylation, respectively); the SURFONIC LF-X series from Huntsman Chemical Co. (Salt Lake City, Utah), including L12-7 and L12-8 (made from linear C₁₀ to C₁₂ alcohols with an average of 7 moles and 8 moles, respectively, of ethoxylation), L24-7, L24-9 and L24-12 (made from linear C₁₂ to C₁₄ alcohols with an average of 7 moles, 9 moles and 12 moles of ethoxylation, respectively), L68-20 (made from primary, linear C₁₆₋₁₈ alcohols with an average of 20 moles of ethoxylation) and L26-6.5 (made from linear C₁₂ to C₁₆ alcohols with an average of 6.5 moles of ethoxylation); and Ethylan 68-30 (C₁₆₋₁₈ with an average of 20 moles of ethoxylation) available from Akzo Nobel.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the surfactant is selected from alkoxylated tertiary etheramines, alkoxylated quaternary etheramines, alkoxylated etheramine oxides, alkoxylated tertiary amines, alkoxylated quaternary amines, alkoxylated polyamines, sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters, alkyl polysaccharides, alkoxylated alcohols, and combinations thereof.

In some other embodiments, amidoalkylamine surfactants can optionally be formulated in compositions of the present invention comprising glyphosate co-herbicide. Amidoalkylamine surfactants for use in such herbicidal formulations of the present invention have the general structure (31):

wherein R₃₁₁ is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each independently hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and R₃₁₄ is hydrocarbylene or substituted hydrocarbylene having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

R₃₁₁ is preferably an alkyl or substituted alkyl having an average value of carbon atoms between about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably an average value between about 4 and about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably an average value from about 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, more preferably an average value from about 5 to about 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably an average value from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms, and still more preferably an average value from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms. The R₃₁₁ alkyl group may be derived from a variety of sources that provide alkyl groups having from about 4 to about 18 carbon atoms, for example, the source may be butyric acid, valeric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, coco (comprising mainly lauric acid), myristic acid (from, e.g., palm oil), soy (comprising mainly linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid), or tallow (comprising mainly palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid). In some embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a blend of amidoalkylamines having alkyl chains of various lengths from about 5 carbon atoms to about 12 carbon atoms. For example, depending upon the source of the R₃₁₁ alkyl group, an amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a blend of surfactants having R₃₁₁ groups that are 5 carbon atoms in length, 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, 10 carbon atoms in length, 11 carbon atoms in length, and 12 carbon atoms in length, longer carbon chains, and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a blend of surfactants having R₃₁₁ groups that are 5 carbon atoms in length, 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, and 8 carbon atoms in length. In some alternative embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a blend of surfactants having R₁ groups that are 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, and 10 carbon atoms in length. In other embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a blend of surfactants having R₃₁₁ groups that are 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, 10 carbon atoms in length, 11 carbon atoms in length, and 12 carbon atoms in length.

R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are independently preferably an alkyl or substituted alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are most preferably independently an alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and most preferably methyl. R₃₁₄ is preferably an alkylene or substituted alkylene having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. R₃₁₄ is most preferably an alkylene having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and most preferably n-propylene. When R₃₁₄ is n-propylene, the amidoalkylamine surfactants are termed amidopropylamine (APA) surfactants.

In one preferred amidoalkylamine surfactant, R₃₁₁ is C₆₋₁₀, i.e., an alkyl group having 6 carbon atoms, 7 carbon atoms, 8 carbon atoms, 9 carbon atoms, 10 carbon atoms, or a blend of any of these, i.e., from about 6 carbon atoms to about 10 carbon atoms; R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl; and R₃₁₄ is n-propylene (i.e., C₆₋₁₀ amidopropyl dimethylamine).

Examples of APA surfactants include Armeen APA 2 (where R₃₁₁ is C₂ and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each hydrogen), Armeen APA 6 (where R₃₁₁ is C₆ and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl), Armeen APA 8, 10 (where R₃₁₁ is C₈₋₁₀ and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl), Armeen APA 12 (where R₃₁₁ is C₁₂ and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl), ACAR 7051 (where R₃₁₁ is C₅₋₉ and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl), ACAR 7059 (where R₃₁₁ is 2-ethyl hexyl and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl) and Adsee C80W (where R₃₁₁ is Coco and R₃₁₂ and R₃₁₃ are each methyl).

In some embodiments of the present invention, certain polybasic amine polymers may precipitate from solution in acidic aqueous formulations. It has been discovered that certain solubilizers improve amine polymer solubility in such formulations and function to prevent or inhibit precipitation. Under one theory, and without being bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the solubilizers help to maintain amine site hydration thereby inhibiting collapse of the polymer three-dimensional structure and associated precipitation from solution. It has been discovered that amine surfactants can function as both herbicidal efficacy enhancers and solubilizers. Such solubilizers include, for example, amine surfactants such as alkoxylated tertiary etheramines, alkoxylated quaternary etheramines, alkoxylated etheramine oxides, alkoxylated tertiary amine oxides, alkoxylated tertiary amines, alkoxylated quaternary amines, polyamines, alkoxylated polyamines and betaines. Solubilizers may also include primary, secondary or tertiary C₄ to C₁₆ alkyl or aryl amine compounds, or the corresponding quaternary ammonium compounds. A weight ratio of polymer to solubilizer of from about 1:1 to about 50:1 is preferred, more preferably from about 2:1 to about 25:1.

In one embodiment, compounds which enhance polymer solubility include amines or quaternary ammonium salt compounds having the general structures (32) and (33)

wherein R₃₂₀ is linear or branched alkyl or aryl having from about 4 to about 16 carbon atoms, R₃₂₁ is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R₃₂₂ is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; R₃₂₃ is hydrogen or methyl; and A⁻ is an agriculturally acceptable anion. Non-limiting examples include, mixed C₈₋₁₆ alkyl amine (Armeen C), dimethylcocoamine (Arquad DMCD), cocoammonium chloride (Arquad C), of which are manufactured by Akzo Nobel, hexylamine, dimethylhexylamine, octylamine, dimethyloctylamine, dodecyltrimethyl amide and C₄₋₈ trialkyl amines.

In some embodiments of the present invention, amidoalkylamine surfactants, as described above, can optionally be formulated as a solubilizer in compositions of the present invention comprising glyphosate co-herbicide.

Alkoxylated tertiary etheramines, alkoxylated quaternary etheramines, alkoxylated tertiary amines, alkoxylated quaternary amines, and octylamines are generally preferred stabilizers and, based on experimental evidence to date, provide greater polymer solubility and stability on a weight ratio basis than do amidoalkylamines.

The formulations of the invention may further comprise other additives such as conventional drift control agents, safeners, thickeners, flow enhancers, antifoaming agents, freeze protectants and/or UV protectants. Suitable drift control agents are known to those skilled in the art and include the commercial products Gardian®, Gardian Plus®, Dri-Gard®, Pro-One XL™, Array™, Compadre™, In-Place®, Bronc® Max EDT, EDT Concentrate™, Coverage® and Bronc® Plus Dry EDT. Safeners are likewise known to those skilled in the art and include isoxadifen, benoxacor and dichlormid.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the dicamba formulations of the present invention are used in the preparation of concentrate, tank mix or ready to use (RTU) formulations further comprising one or more additional co-herbicides. Co-herbicides include auxin herbicide salts other than dicamba salts (as previously described). Co-herbicides also include acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors, photosystem II inhibitors, photosystem I inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO or Protox) inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase inhibitor, glutamine synthetase inhibitor, dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitor, mitosis inhibitors, synthetic auxins, auxin transport inhibitors and nucleic acid inhibitors, salts and esters thereof, and combinations thereof.

Included within the scope of co-herbicides are racemic mixtures and resolved isomers. Typical cations for the co-herbicide salts of the present invention include potassium, MEA, DMA, IPA, trimethylsulfonium (TMS) diethylammonium (DEA), lithium, and ammonium. Typical anions for the formation of co-herbicide salts include chlorine, bromine, fluorine and acetate. Typical esters include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, isooctyl, ethylhexyl, ethoxyethyl, butoxyethyl, butoxypropyl and octanoate.

Examples of ACCase inhibitors include clethodim, clodinafop, fenoxaprop-P, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P and sethoxydim. Examples of ALS or AHAS inhibitors include flumetsulam, imazamethabenz-m, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, metsulfuron, prosulfuron and sulfosulfuron. Examples of photosystem I inhibitors include diquat and paraquat. Examples of photosystem II inhibitors include atrazine, cyanazine and diuron. Examples of PPO inhibitors include acifluorofen, butafenacil, carfentrazone-ethyl, flufenpyr-ethyl, fluthiacet, flumiclorac, flumioxazin, fomesafen, lactofen, oxadiazon, oxyflurofen and sulfentrazone. Examples of carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors include aclonifen, amitrole, diflufenican and sulcotrione. Glyphosate is an EPSP inhibitor, glufosinate is a glutamine synthetase inhibitor and asulam is a dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitor. Examples of mitosis inhibitors include acetochlor, alachlor, dithiopyr, S-metolachlor and thiazopyr. Naptalam is an example of a auxin transport inhibitor. Examples of nucleic acid inhibitors include difenzoquat, fosamine, metham and pelargonic acid.

Examples of suitable water-soluble herbicides include, without restriction, 2,4-D, aminopyralid, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, MCPA, and salts thereof; 2,4-DB salts, dichlorprop salts, MCPB salts, mecoprop salts, picloram salts, quinclorac salts, and triclopyr salts; and water soluble acids, salts and esters of acifluorfen, alloxydim, aminocarbazone, amidosulfuron, amitrole, asulam, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, beflubutamid, benazolin, bentazon, bensulfuron-methyl, bispyribac, bromacil, carbetamide, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, clomazone, dalapon, dazomet, dicamba, dichlormid, diclofop, diclopyr, difenzoquat, deflufenzopyr, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethipin, diquat dibromide, DNOC, DSMA, endothall, exasulfuron, flazasulfuron, floramsulfuron, florasulam, flucarbazone-sodium, flupropanate, fluthiacet, fomesafen, foramsulfuron, fosamine, glyphosate, glufosinate, glufosinate-P, hexazinone, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic-ammonium, imazapyr, imazaquin-ammonium, imazethapyr-ammonium, iodosulfuron, mesotrione, metam, metamitron, metham, metosulam, metribuzin, metsulfuron-methyl, molinate, monolinuron, MSMA, water soluble salts of oleic acid, naptalam, oxasulfuron, paraquat dichloride, water-soluble salts of pelargonic acid, penoxsulam, prometon, propoxycarbazone-sodium, prosulfuron, pyrithiobac-sodium, quinmerac, rimsulfuron, sethoxydim, sulfosulfuron, TBA, tebuthiuron, terbacil, thifensulfuron-methyl, tralkoxydim, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, triclopyr, and trifloxysulfuron; racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof; and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable water-insoluble herbicides include, without restriction, acetochlor, acifluorfen, aclonifen, alachlor, ametryn, anilofos, atrazine, azafenidin, benfluralin, bensulfuron-methyl, bensulide, benzofenap, bifenox, bromoxynil, butachlor, butroxydim, butylate, cafenstrole, chlomethoxyfen, chlorbromuron, chloridazon, chlornitrofen, chlorotoluron, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlorthiamid, cinmethylin, clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, cloransulam-methyl, cyanazine, cycloate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, desmedipham, desmetryn, dichlobenil, diclosulam, diflufenican, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dinitramine, dinoterb, dithiopyr, diuron, EPTC, esprocarb, ethalfluralin, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethofumesate, ethoxysulfuron, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fentrazamide, fluazifop-butyl, flucetosulfuron, fluchloralin, flufenacet, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumetsulam, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluometuron, fluorochloridone, fluoroglycofen, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, fluridone, fluroxypyr-1-methylheptyl, flurtamone, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, foramsulfuron, furyloxyfen, halosulfuron-methyl, haloxyfop-methyl, imazosulfuron, ioxynil, isoproturon, isoxaben, isoxaflutole, lactofen, lenacil, linuron, mefenacet, metazachlor, methabenzthiazuron, metobromuron, metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, molinate, monolinuron, napropamide, niocosulfuron, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, norflurazon, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxyfluorfen, pebulate, pelargonic acid, pendimethalin, phenmedipham, pretilachlor, prim isulfuron-methyl, prodiamine, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propisochlor, propyzamide, prosulfocarb, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrazolynate, pyrazon, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazoxyfen, pyribenoxim, pyridate, quinclorac, quinmerac, quizalofop-ethyl, rimsulfuron, siduron, simazine, simetryn, sulcotrione, sulfentrazone, sulfometuron, terbacil, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, thenylchlor, thiazopyr, thiobencarb, triallate, trietazine, trifluralin, triflusulfuron-methyl, and vernolate, agriculturally acceptable salts or esters of any of these herbicides, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof, and combinations thereof.

Some preferred water-soluble herbicides include 2,4-D and salts thereof, acifluorfen salts, carfentrazone-ethyl, fomesafen salts, glyphosate and salts thereof, glufosinate and salts thereof, imazamethabenz and salts and esters thereof, imazamox and salts and esters thereof, imazapic and salts and esters thereof, imazapyr and salts and esters thereof, imazaquin and salts and esters thereof, imazethapyr and salts and esters thereof, mecoprop salts, triclopyr salts, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof, and combinations thereof. Some preferred water-insoluble herbicides include acetochlor, alachlor, atrazine, azafenidin, bifenox, butachlor, butafenacil, diuron, dithiopyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen, fluthiacet-methyl, lactofen, metazochlor, metolachlor (and S-metolachlor), oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, pyraflufen-ethyl, sulfentrazone and thenylchlor, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof, and combinations thereof.

Tank mix and RTU co-herbicide formulations of the present invention typically comprise from about 0.1 g a.e./L to about 50 g a.e./L total herbicide loading while co-herbicide concentrate formulations of the present invention typically comprise from about 50 to about 750 g a.e./L, from about 300 to about 750 g a.e./L, from about 350 to about g a.e./L, from about 400 to about 750 g a.e./L, from about 450 to about 750 g a.e./L, or even from about 500 to about 750 g a.e./L. For example, 50, 51, 55, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 577.5, 600, 650, 700, or even 750 g a.e./L, and ranges thereof. In co-herbicide formulations, a weight ratio on an acid equivalent basis of the auxin herbicide to the total co-herbicide of no greater than about 50:1, for example, about 50:1, 25:1, 10:1, 5:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:5 or even about 1:10 and ranges thereof, for example, from about 50:1 to about 1:10, from about 50:1 to about 1:5, from about 50:1 to about 1:1, from about 50:1 to about 3:1, from about 50:1 to about 5:1, from about 50:1 to about 10:1, from about 25:1 to about 1:1, or from about 25:1 to about 3:1, are preferred. For any given auxin herbicide and concentration thereof, one skilled in the art can readily determine using routine experimentation a minimum ratio of that auxin herbicide to any co-herbicide or combination of co-herbicides that is necessary to achieve the objects of the invention in view of the other components of the formulation, such as a polybasic polymer component and/or surfactant component and their respective concentrations.

In some embodiments of the present invention, an auxin herbicide (e.g., dicamba) is combined with a co-herbicide selected from glyphosate, glufosinate (or glufosinate-P), an ALS inhibitor, salts and esters thereof, or combinations thereof, for application to transgenic plants comprising an auxin (e.g., dicamba, 2,4-D or fluroxypyr) resistant trait, a glyphosate resistant trait, a glufosinate resistant trait, an ALS resistant trait, or combinations thereof.

Crop tolerance to specific herbicides can be conferred by engineering genes into crops which encode appropriate herbicide metabolizing enzymes and/or insensitive herbicide targets. Technology for introduction of a DNA molecule (genes) into cells is well known to those of skill in the art. Methods and materials for transforming plant cells by introducing a DNA construct into a plant genome in the practice of this invention can include any of the well-known and demonstrated methods including, but not limited to:

(1) chemical methods (Graham and Van der Eb, Virology, 54(2):536-539 (1973) and Zatloukal, et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 660: 136-153 (1992));

(2) physical methods such as microinjection (Capecchi, Cell, 22(2):479-488 (1980)), electroporation (Wong and Neumann, Biochim. Biophys. Res. Commun., 107(2):584-587 (1982); Fromm, et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82(17):5824-5828 (1985); U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,253) particle acceleration (Johnston and Tang, Methods Cell Biol., 43(A): 353-365 (1994); Fynan, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90(24):11478-11482 (1993)): and microprojectile bombardment (as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,015,580; 5,550,318; 5,538,880; 6,160,208; 6,399,861; and 6,403,865);

(3) viral vectors (Clapp, Clin. Perinatol., 20(1):155-168 (1993); Lu, et al., J. Exp. Med., 178(6):2089-2096 (1993); Eglitis and Anderson, Biotechniques, 6(7):608-614 (1988));

(4) receptor-mediated mechanisms (Curiel et al., Hum. Gen. Ther., 3(2):147-154 (1992) and Wagner, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89(13):6099-6103 (1992);

(5) bacterial mediated mechanisms such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,824,877; 5,591,616; 5,981,840; and 6,384,301); direct introduction into pollen by injecting a plant's reproductive organs (Zhou, et al., Methods in Enzymology, 101:433, (1983);

(6) Hess, Intern Rev. Cytol., 107:367 (1987); Luo, et al., Plant Mol Biol. Reporter, 6:165 (1988); Pena, et al., Nature, 325:274 (1987));

(7) protoplast transformation (as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,184); and

(8) injection into immature embryos (Neuhaus, et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 75:30 (1987)).

Any of the above described methods may be utilized to transform a plant cell.

Methods for transforming dicotyledonous plants, primarily by use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and obtaining transgenic plants have been published for cotton (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,863; 5,159,135; and 5,518,908); soybean (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,834 and 5,416,011; see also, McCabe, et al., Biotechnolgy, 6:923 (1988) and Christou et al., Plant Physiol. 87:671-674 (1988)); Brassica (U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,174); peanut (Cheng et al., Plant Cell Rep., 15:653-657 (1996) and McKently et al., Plant Cell Rep., 14:699-703 (1995)); papaya; and pea (Grant et al., Plant Cell Rep., 15:254-258 (1995)).

Transformations of monocotyledon plants using electroporation, particle bombardment, and Agrobacterium have also been reported. Transformation and plant regeneration have been achieved in asparagus (Bytebier, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 84:5354 (1987); barley (Wan and Lemaux, Plant Physiol, 104:37 (1994)); maize (Rhodes, et al., Science 240:204 (1988), Gordon-Kamm, et al., Plant Cell, 2:603-618 (1990), Fromm, et al., Bio/Technology, 8:833 (1990), Koziel et al., Bio/Technology, 11:194 (1993), and Armstrong, et al., Crop Science, 35:550-557 (1995)); oat (Somers, et al., Bio/Technology, 10:1589 (1992)); orchard grass (Horn, et al., Plant Cell Rep.. 7:469 (1988)); rye (De la Pena, et al., Nature, 325:274 (1987)); sugarcane (Bower and Birch, Plant Journal, 2:409 (1992)); tall fescue (Wang, et al., Bio/Technology, 10:691 (1992)); and wheat (Vasil, et al., Bio/Technology, 10:667 (1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,152).

The regeneration, development, and cultivation of plants from transformed plant protoplast or explants is well known in the art (see, for example, Weissbach and Weissbach, Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, (Eds.), Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (1988) and Horsch et al., Science, 227:1229-1231 (1985)). Transformed cells are generally cultured in the presence of a selective media, which selects for the successfully transformed cells and induces the regeneration of plant shoots and roots into intact plants (Fraley, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80: 4803 (1983)). Transformed plants are typically obtained within two to four months.

The regenerated transgenic plants are self-pollinated to provide homozygous transgenic plants. Alternatively, pollen obtained from the regenerated transgenic plants may be crossed with non-transgenic plants, preferably inbred lines of agronomically important species. Descriptions of breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books, see, for example, Allard, Principles of Plant Breeding, John Wiley & Sons, NY, U. of CA, Davis, Calif., 50-98 (1960); Simmonds, Principles of crop improvement, Longman, Inc., NY, 369-399 (1979); Sneep and Hendriksen, Plant breeding perspectives, Wageningen (ed), Center for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation (1979); Fehr, Soybeans: Improvement, Production and Uses, 2nd Edition, Monograph., 16:249 (1987); Fehr, Principles of variety development, Theory and Technique, (Vol 1) and Crop Species Soybean (Vol 2), Iowa State Univ., Macmillian Pub. Co., NY, 360-376 (1987). Conversely, pollen from non-transgenic plants may be used to pollinate the regenerated transgenic plants.

The transformed plants may be analyzed for the presence of the genes of interest and the expression level and/or profile conferred by the regulatory elements of the present invention. Those of skill in the art are aware of the numerous methods available for the analysis of transformed plants. For example, methods for plant analysis include, but are not limited to Southern blots or northern blots, PCR-based approaches, biochemical analyses, phenotypic screening methods, field evaluations, and immunodiagnostic assays. The expression of a transcribable polynucleotide molecule can be measured using TaqMan® (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) reagents and methods as described by the manufacturer and PCR cycle times determined using the TaqMan® Testing Matrix. Alternatively, the Invader® (Third Wave Technologies, Madison, Wis.) reagents and methods as described by the manufacturer can be used transgene expression.

The seeds of the plants of this invention can be harvested from fertile transgenic plants and be used to grow progeny generations of transformed plants of this invention including hybrid plant lines comprising the construct of this invention and expressing a gene of agronomic interest.

Genetically engineered crop plants of the present include, for example, cotton, soybeans, sugar beet, sugar cane, plantation crops, tobacco, rape, maize and rice. Examples of crops having herbicidal resistance given by a genetic engineering technique include corn, soybean and cotton having resistance to glyphosate (Roundup Ready®) and glufosinate (Liberty Link®). Other examples of herbicide resistant crop plants include dicamba, 2,4-D, dicamba or sethoxydim resistant corn, cotton and soybean; imidazolinone (imazethapyr and imazapyr) resistant corn (Imi-Corn®) and soybeans; and glyphosate and glufosinate resistant corn (SmartStax®).

In some embodiments of the present invention, dicamba (or a salt thereof) is combined with glyphosate co-herbicide (or a salt or ester thereof), the crop plant comprises a glyphosate-resistant trait and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait. Such compositions are useful to control (i) glyphosate susceptible plants and (ii) glyphosate resistant, but auxin susceptible, volunteer crop plants and/or weeds growing in a field of (iii) glyphosate and auxin resistant or tolerant crop plants.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the auxin co-herbicide is an ALS-inhibitor herbicide (or a salt or ester thereof), the crop plant comprises an ALS-resistant trait and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait. Such compositions are useful to control (i) ALS susceptible plants and (ii) ALS resistant, but auxin susceptible, volunteer crop plants and/or weeds growing in a field of (iii) ALS and auxin resistant or tolerant crop plants. Some preferred ALS herbicides include amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, florasulam, halosulfuron (-methyl), imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, metsulfuron (-methyl), nicosulfuron, primisulfuron (-methyl), prosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron (-methyl), triasulfuron, tribenuron (-methyl), trifloxysulfuron and triflusulfuron (-methyl), salts and esters thereof, and racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the auxin co-herbicide is glufosinate (or glufosinate-P) (or a salt or ester thereof), the crop plant comprises a glufosinate-resistant trait and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait. Such compositions are useful to control (i) glufosinate susceptible plants and (ii) glufosinate resistant, but auxin susceptible, volunteer crop plants and/or weeds growing in a field of (iii) glufosinate and auxin resistant or tolerant crop plants.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, glyphosate and glufosinate (or glufosinate-P) co-herbicides (or salts or esters thereof) are combined with an auxin herbicide, the crop plant is a species that comprises a glyphosate-resistant trait and a glufosinate-resistant trait, and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait.

In still other embodiments embodiments of the present invention, glyphosate and at least one ALS inhibitor herbicide (or salts or esters thereof) are combined with an auxin herbicide, the crop plant is a species that comprises a glyphosate-resistant trait and an ALS-resistant trait, and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, glufosinate (or glufosinate-P) and at least one ALS inhibitor herbicide (or salts or esters thereof) are combined with an auxin herbicide, the crop plant is a species that comprises a glufosinate-resistant trait and an ALS-resistant trait, and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, glyphosate, glufosinate (or glufosinate-P) and ALS inhibitor co-herbicides (or salts or esters thereof) are combined with an auxin herbicide (e.g., dicamba) and the crop plant possesses glyphosate, glufosinate and ALS resistant traits and the crop plant is further either (i) a plant species not susceptible to auxin herbicides or (ii) comprises a dicamba resistant trait.

In herbicidal methods of the present invention of using a formulation of the invention, an application mixture, typically comprising from about 0.1 to about 50 g a.e./L herbicide, is formed and then applied to the foliage of a plant or plants at an application rate sufficient to give a commercially acceptable rate of weed control. Application mixtures are typically prepared from aqueous concentrate formulations by dilution with water to achieve the desired concentration. This application rate is usually expressed as amount of auxin herbicide per unit area treated, e.g., grams acid equivalent per hectare (g a.e./ha). Depending on plant species and growing conditions, the period of time required to achieve a commercially acceptable rate of weed control can be as short as a week or as long as three weeks, four weeks or 30 days. Typically a period of about two to three weeks is needed for the auxin herbicide to exert its full effect.

The formulations of the present invention can be applied pre-planting of the crop plant, such as from about 2 to about 3 weeks before planting auxin-susceptible crop plants or crop plants not having a dicamba-resistant trait. Crop plants that are not susceptible to certain auxin herbicides, such as corn, or plants having the dicamba-resistant trait typically have no pre-planting restriction and the formulations of the present invention can be applied immediately before planting such crops.

The formulations of the present invention can be applied at planting or post-emergence to crop plants having a dicamba-resistant trait to control auxin-susceptible weeds in a field of the crop plants and/or adjacent to a field of the crop plants. The formulations of the present invention can also be applied post-emergence to crop plants and/or adjacent to crop plants not having a dicamba resistant trait, such as corn, but that are not susceptible to auxin herbicides.

When a maximum or minimum “average number” is recited herein with reference to a structural feature such as oxyethylene units of a surfactant, or molecular weight or nitrogen content of a polybasic polymer, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the integer number of such units in individual molecules typically varies over a range that can include integer numbers greater than the maximum or smaller than the minimum “average number”. The presence in a formulation of individual molecules having an integer number of such units outside the stated range in “average number” does not remove the formulation from the scope of the present invention, so long as the “average number” is within the stated range and other requirements are met.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention.

The herbicidal effectiveness data set forth herein report “inhibition” as a percentage following a standard procedure in the art which reflects a visual assessment of plant mortality and growth reduction by comparison with untreated plants, made by technicians specially trained to make and record such observations. In all cases, a single technician makes all assessments of percent inhibition within any one experiment or trial. Such measurements are relied upon and regularly reported by Monsanto Technology LLC in the course of its herbicide business.

The selection of application rates that are biologically effective for a specific auxin herbicide is within the skill of the ordinary agricultural scientist. Those of skill in the art will likewise recognize that individual plant conditions, weather and growing conditions, as well as the specific exogenous chemical and formulation thereof selected, will affect the weed efficacy and associated crop injury achieved in practicing this invention. Useful application rates for the auxin herbicides employed can depend upon all of the above conditions. With respect to the use of the method of this invention, much information is known about appropriate auxin application rates, and a weed control practitioner can select auxin application rates that are herbicidally effective on particular species at particular growth stages in particular environmental conditions.

Effectiveness in greenhouse tests, usually at exogenous chemical rates lower than those normally effective in the field, is a proven indicator of consistency of field performance at normal use rates. As illustrated in the Examples herein, a pattern of enhancement emerges over a series of greenhouse tests; when such a pattern is identified this is strong evidence of biological enhancement that will be useful in the field.

The formulations of the present invention can be applied to plants by spraying, using any conventional means for spraying liquids, such as spray nozzles, atomizers, or the like. Formulations of the present invention can be used in precision farming techniques, in which apparatus is employed to vary the amount of exogenous chemical applied to different parts of a field, depending on variables such as the particular plant species present, soil composition, and the like. In one embodiment of such techniques, a global positioning system operated with the spraying apparatus can be used to apply the desired amount of the formulation to different parts of a field.

The formulation, at the time of application to plants, is preferably dilute enough to be readily sprayed using standard agricultural spray equipment. Preferred application rates for the present invention vary depending upon a number of factors, including the type and concentration of active ingredient and the plant species involved. Useful rates for applying an aqueous formulation to a field of foliage can range from about 25 to about 1,000 liters per hectare (I/ha) by spray application. The preferred application rates for aqueous solutions are in the range from about 50 to about 300 I/ha.

Many exogenous chemicals (including auxin herbicides) must be taken up by living tissues of the plant and translocated within the plant in order to produce the desired biological (e.g., herbicidal) effect. Thus, it is important that an herbicidal formulation not be applied in such a manner as to excessively injure and interrupt the normal functioning of the local tissue of the plant so quickly that translocation is reduced. However, some limited degree of local injury can be insignificant, or even beneficial, in its impact on the biological effectiveness of certain exogenous chemicals.

The experiments were carried out in greenhouse testing. The herbicidal formulations were applied postemergence to weeds having a height of about 10-15 cm using plot sprayers. Test formulations were applied at a spray volume 93 L/ha applied by means of a Flatfan 9501E nozzle (Spraying Systems Co., Wheaton, Ill., USA) at 165 kPa pressure. The greenhouse temperature was 21-29° C. at approximately 30% relative humidity. Evaluation was done by visual scoring. The effects on the plant species were estimated in comparison with untreated control plots using a percentage scale (0-100%).

The components in Table 1 below are used in the Examples.

TABLE 1 Component Description Surf1 Tallowamine ethoxylate 10EO surfactant Surf2 5:2:1:1 ratio of tallowamine ethoxylate (10.5EO) surfactant (Ethomeen T105 tallowamine ethoxylate): tridecanol phosphate (4EO) surfactant (Emphos PS-121 HM):polyethylene glycol (PEG400/600):dipropylene glycol Surf3 Surfonic AGM 550 surfactant Surf4 Witconate AOK (sodium C₁₄₋₁₆ olefin sulfonate) Surf5 Tergitol 15-S-12 surfactant Surf6 Ethylan 68-30 surfactant Surf7 Phosphalan PS-131 Surf8 Agrimul 2067 APG surfactant Surf9 Ethomeen YT (12EO) (Tallow Y-amine 12EO) Surf10 Ethoduomeen CD (3EO) (Alkoxylated N-coco-1,3- diaminopropane) Surf11 Adogen 570 (13EO) Surf12 Ethomeen YT (16EO) Surf13 Triamine Y/12 (Alkoxylated N- tallowalkyldipropylenetriamine) Surf14 Ethomeen Y/12 (8EO) (Alkoxylated N-tallowalkylamine) Surf15 Ethomeen YT (8EO) Surf16 Adogen 560 (4.8EO) Surf17 Ethomeen YT (20EO) Surf18 Ethomeen Y/12 (12EO) Surf19 Adogen 560 (10EO) Surf20 Adogen 560 (13.4EO) Surf21 Tetrameen T (4.9EO) Surf22 Corsamine TRT (19.2EO) (Alkoxylated N-tallowalkyldipropylenetriamine) Surf23 Ethomeen Y/12 (16EO) Surf24 Heptamine YT (8EO) Surf25 Adogen 670 (14.9EO) Surf26 Ethomeen Y/12 (4EO) Surf27 Ethomeen Y/12 (20EO) Surf28 Ethomeen YT (4EO) Surf29 Agnique PG 8107 Surf30 Tallowamine 15EO Surf31 Surfonic L12-8 Surf32 Surfonic L24-9 Surf33 Surfonic L24-12 Surf34 Neodol 45-13 Surf35 Tergitol 15-S-5 Surf36 Polyvinyl alcohol (77,000 to 79,000 molecular weight-CAS No. 9002-89-5) Surf37 Tomah E-17-5 Surf38 Witconate 93-S Surf39 Phospholan PS-236 Surf40 Surfonic L68-20 Surf41 Armeen APA 2 Surf42 Armeen APA 6 Surf43 Armeen APA 8, 10 Surf44 Armeen APA 12 Surf45 ACAR 7051 Surf46 ACAR 7059 Surf47 Adsee C80W Surf48 Tallowamine ethoxylate (15EO) and glycerin Surf49 Ethomeen T/20H Poly1 Lupasol P (750,000 Dalton molecular weight) Poly2 Lupasol FG (800 Dalton molecular weight) Poly3 Aldrich Polyamine (molecular weight 25,000 Catalog No. 408727) Poly4 Lupasol SC-61-B (110,000 Dalton molecular weight) Poly5 Lupasol SK (2,000,000 Dalton molecular weight) Poly6 Polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (molecular weight 40,000, TCI cat no. P0472) Poly7 Quadrol Polyol Poly8 Lupasol HF (25,000 Dalton molecular weight)

Example 1

An experiment was performed to determine the efficacy of experimental application mixtures prepared by aqueous dilution of experimental MEA dicamba salt formulations containing a surfactant relative to comparative application mixtures prepared by dilution of the commercial products CLARITY and BANVEL.

Aqueous formulations comprising MEA dicamba were typically prepared by mixing water and monoethanolamine for 5 min followed by addition of dicamba acid (98.3% purity) in one portion. The resulting suspensions were stirred until all of the solids had dissolved by visual inspection, typically between 60 min and overnight. Relative amounts of dicamba and MEA used to give 61% by wt solutions of dicamba are reported in Table 1a. These and MEA dicamba solutions prepared using this procedure were subsequently used in preparation of MEA dicamba formulations containing polyimine polymers and/or surfactants.

TABLE 1a mol eq Dicamba Water MEA Dicamba MEA: wt % (g) (g) (g) dicamba 61 108.28 81.45 310.27 0.95 61 103.99 85.74 310.27 1.00 61 99.7 90.02 310.27 1.05 61 57.27 56.58 186.15 1.10

The formulation of the experimental dicamba aqueous formulations are indicated in Table 1b below where the dicamba concentrations are reported on a weight percent active equivalent (wt % a.e.) basis unless otherwise indicated. CLARITY contains 56.8 wt % active ingredient (a.i.) (38.5 wt % a.e.) of the diglycolamine salt of dicamba. BANVEL contains 48.2 wt % a.i. of the dimethylamine salt of dicamba.

TABLE 1b Comp. Form. Dicamba concentration Component conc. 925S3J 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf1 10 wt % 926Y7O 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf2 10 wt % 931F5L 40 wt % MEA dicamba Poly1 4.2 wt % 956N5T 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf3 10 wt % 933C3S 40 wt % MEA dicamba Poly5 4.2 wt % 942T3R 55 wt % DGA Dicamba None — 944L8M 40 wt % DGA dicamba None — 957Y2S 61 wt % MEA dicamba None — 959C9L 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf4 10 wt % 960U4V 40 wt % MEA dicamba Surf5 10 wt % 961X6A 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf6 10 wt % 962P0H 40 wt % MEA dicamba None — 963E2Z 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf7 10 wt % 968Q3W 48.5 wt % MEA dicamba None — 416B5G 48 wt % MEA dicamba Surf8 14.3 wt % 955C3D 40 wt % MEA dicamba surf3 10 wt % 403E5Y 45 wt % MEA dicamba None — 416U7M 48 wt % MEA dicamba surf8 10 wt % 802R2X 48.1 wt % MEA dicamba surf7 10 wt % 929P6H 40 wt % MEA dicamba poly5 17.3 wt % 908D1S 40 wt % MEA dicamba poly5 17.3 wt % surf2 8 wt % 066P9C 39.5 wt % MEA dicamba poly6 3 wt % 068I4B 39.5 wt % MEA dicamba poly6 10 wt % 070J7X 48 wt % MEA dicamba poly6 8 wt % 071Q5H 48 wt % MEA dicamba poly6 4 wt % 532U3W 47.9 wt % MEA dicamba poly7 5 wt % 580Q7N 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 4 wt % 7601W8J 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 1 wt % 7602G5V 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 2 wt % 7603A1D 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 3 wt % 7604P0K 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 4 wt % 7605L6Y 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 5 wt % 7606M4R 40 wt % DGA dicamba Poly2 6 wt % 7191U4V 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 1 wt % 7192E8K 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 2 wt % 7193E3C 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 3 wt % 7194R5X 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 4 wt % 7195O7T 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 5 wt % 7196M9K 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly2 6 wt % 1381X4R 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 1 wt % 1382P2H 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 2 wt % 1383T5B 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 3 wt % 1384U5U 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 4 wt % 1385A4S 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 5 wt % 1386J7G 40 wt % potassium dicamba Poly8 6 wt % 8145A6B 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf2 12 wt % 8145B7U 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf2 8 wt % 8145C2Z 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf2 4 wt % 8146A8A 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf49 12 wt % 8146B2K 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf49 8 wt % 8146C9K 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf49 4 wt % 8147A1E 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf48 12 wt % 8147B8N 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf48 8 wt % 8147C4F 40 wt % DGA dicamba Surf48 4 wt % Na-Dicamba 42 wt % Sodium Dicamba — — MEA-Dicamba 45 wt % MEA dicamba — — K-dicamba 53 wt % Potassium Dicamba — —

Formulations from Table 1b and CLARITY were sprayed over the top of soybeans having both dicamba resistant and Roundup Ready® (RR) traits to investigate any possible injury at application rates of 561 (the labeled rate), 1120 and 2244 grams acid equivalent per hectare (kg a.e./ha) in the equivalent of 93 liters per hectare (L/ha) water. Ratings were taken at 4 days after treatment (DAT). The data is presented in Table 1c in an ANOVA summary of formulations mean comparisons by rate.

TABLE 1c 1120 g 2240 g 4480 g a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 1.2 3.2 5.2 925S3J 1 4.5 11.3 926Y7O 0 4 12.7 956N5T 2.3 12.5 21.7 959C9L 0.8 3.2 20 960U4V 1.8 11.7 32.5 961X6A 1.2 6.5 20.8 962P0H 0.5 2.8 4.2 963E2Z 0.5 7.3 31.7 416B5G 1.5 6.5 23.3 LSD 2.4 5 7.6

At the label use rate (1120 g a.e./ha), no significant injury was noted. The 4× label application rate of 4480 g a.e./ha indicated crop injury, particularly for formulation 960U4V containing an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant. Overall, at normal use rates, none of the formulations appear to be overly injurious to soybeans having dicamba resistant and RR traits.

The efficacy of application mixtures prepared from the Table 1b formulations, CLARITY and BANVEL were evaluated on velvetleaf (ABUTH); common ragweed (AMBEL); pitted morningglory (IPOLA); and common waterhemp (AMATA). For each trial, dicamba was applied at rates of 140, 280 and 561 grams a.e./ha in the equivalent of 93 L/ha of water. Ratings were taken at 18 to 21 days after treatment DAT. The results of all rates were combined in a pair-wise T-test for each rating for the overall ratings.

The result of the efficacy trials on ABUTH, AMBEL and IPOLA is reported in Table Id as t-test pairwise mean difference comparisons of CLARITY versus the experimental formulations and BANVEL and in Table 1e as t-test pairwise mean difference comparisons of BANVEL versus the experimental formulations and CLARITY. A negative difference value indicates that the experimental formulation provided increased efficacy relative to the comparative formulations. For instance, in Table 1c, formulation 956N5T gave significantly higher combined weed control as compared to CLARITY

TABLE 1d CLARITY Combined Data ABUTH versus Difference n Difference n 956N5T −11.9^(a) 126 −13.5^(a) 108 963E2Z −9.7^(a) 90 −12^(a)  72 926Y7O −9.2^(a) 153 −12.2^(a) 108 960U4V −8.8^(a) 153 −12.4^(a) 108 959C9L −8.7^(a) 153 −13.5^(a) 108 961X6A −7.3^(a) 153 −11.9^(a) 108 925S3J −6.9^(a) 153 −9.5^(a) 108 Na-Dicamba −6.5^(a) 36 −6.5^(a) 36 955C3D −6.3^(a) 135 −11.2^(a) 90 K-Dicamba −4.9^(a) 36 −4.9^(a) 36 BANVEL −4.6^(a) 135 −7.5^(a) 90 416B5G −3.9^(a) 135 −8.8^(a) 90 MEA- −3.4^(a) 108 −4^(a)  90 Dicamba CLARITY AMBEL IPOLA versus Difference n Difference n 956N5T — — −2.4^(c) 18 963E2Z — — −0.6^(c) 18 926Y7O −3.0^(c) 27 −0.8^(c) 18 960U4V 0.3^(c) 27 −1.1^(c) 18 959C9L 4.4^(c) 27 0.4^(c) 18 961X6A 5.9^(c) 27 0.7^(c) 18 925S3J −0.4^(c) 27 −0.6^(c) 18 Na-Dicamba — — — — 955C3D 5.9^(c) 27 −0.2^(c) 18 K-Dicamba — — — — BANVEL 2.6^(c) 27 −1.0^(c) 18 416B5G 9.0^(d) 27 1.2^(c) 18 MEA- — — −0.4^(c) 18 Dicamba ^(a)Formulation is significantly more efficacious than the standard (p < 0.01) ^(b)Formulation is significantly more efficacious than the standard (p < 0.05) ^(c)Formulation cannot be distinguished from the standard (p ≥ 0.05) ^(d)Formulation is significantly less efficacious than the standard (p < 0.05) ^(e)Formulation is significantly less efficacious than the standard (p < 0.01)

TABLE 1e BANVEL Combined Data ABUTH versus Difference n Difference n 956N5T −4.8^(a) 108 −5.5^(a) 90 926Y7O −3.7^(a) 135 −4^(a)   90 959C9L −3.6^(a) 135 −6.2^(a) 90 960U4V −3.6^(a) 135 −4.6^(a) 90 963E2Z −3.3^(a) 72 −4.5^(a) 54 961X6A −2.0^(c) 135 −4.4^(a) 90 925S3J −1.9^(b) 135 −2.1^(a) 90 955C3D −1.7^(b) 135 −3.7^(a) 90 416B5G 0.7^(c) 135 −1.3^(c) 90 Na-Dicamba 2.4^(d) 36 2.4^(d) 36 MEA- 3.3^(e) 90 4^(e)   72 Dicamba K-Dicamba 3.9^(d) 36 3.9^(d) 36 CLARITY 4.6^(e) 135 7.5^(e) 90 CLARITY AMBEL IPOLA versus Difference n Difference n 956N5T — — −1.4^(c) 18 926Y7O 5.5^(c) 27 0.2^(c) 18 959C9L 1.9^(c) 27 1.4^(c) 18 960U4V −2.3^(c) 27 −0.1^(c) 18 963E2Z — — 0.4^(c) 18 961X6A 3.4^(c) 27 1.7^(c) 18 925S3J −2.9^(c) 27 0.4^(c) 18 955C3D 3.3^(c) 27 0.8^(c) 18 416B5G 6.5^(c) 27 2.2^(c) 18 Na-Dicamba — — — — MEA- — — 0.6^(c) 18 Dicamba K-Dicamba — — — — CLARITY −2.6^(c) 27 1.0^(c) 18 The result of the efficacy trials, in % control at 17 DAT, on AMATA is reported in Table 1f.

TABLE 1f 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 59.2 68 72 962P0H 55 70.8 75 925S3J 57 76 94.2 926Y7O 62 79 91.3 956N5T 65 78 94.7 959C9L 64 75 95 960U4V 63.3 72.5 93 961X6A 67.5 70 96.7 963E2Z 67.5 87.5 99 929P6H 71.7 80.8 93.8 908D1S 63.3 72.5 100 LSD 8.7 11 7

At the highest application rate of 561 g a.e./ha all experimental formulations gave superior efficacy as compared to MEA dicamba (962P0H) and CLARITY. At the application rate of 280 g a.e./ha, formulations 963E2Z and 929P6H were more efficacious than CLARITY. At the lowest application rate of 140 g a.e./ha, formulation 929P6H was more efficacious than CLARITY. In general, the formulations containing polyimine polymers (Formulations 929P6H and 908D1S) provided equivalent herbicide performance as compared to formulations comprising a surfactant.

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control, on CHEAL is reported in Table 1g. The CHEAL was at the 9-12 leaf growth stage and was 10-15 cm in height.

TABLE 1g 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 27.5 50 68.3 962P0H 34.2 50 70.8 925S3J 75.8 89.2 96 926Y7O 79.2 89.7 93.2 956N5T 77.5 81.7 85.5 959C9L 58.3 80 89.3 960U4V 58.3 81.7 86.7 961X6A 57.5 75.8 86.7 963E2Z 55.8 75 84.2 929P6H 53.3 61.7 87.5 908D1S 59.2 77.5 86.7 LSD 7.8 6.5 5.5

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, all dicamba formulations were superior to the MEA dicamba salt formulation (962P0H) and CLARITY. Among the highest efficacy formulations at that rate were 925S3J, 926Y7O and 956N5T. At the 280 g a.e./ha application rate, all dicamba formulations were superior to the MEA dicamba salt formulation (962P0H) and CLARITY. The highest efficacy formulations at that rate were 925S3J and 926Y70. At the 561 g a.e./ha application rate, all dicamba formulations except were superior to the MEA dicamba salt formulation (962P0H) and CLARITY. The highest efficacy formulations at that rate were 925S3J and 926Y7O.

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control, on IPOLA is reported in Table 1h. The IPOLA was at the 1-2 leaf growth stage and was 5-10 cm in height.

TABLE 1h 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 83.3 98.8 99.5 403E5Y 83.8 99.5 99.7 BANVEL 85 99.8 99.8 925S3J 85.5 98 100 926Y7O 89.7 94.8 99.5 955C3D 85 97.5 99.8 956N5T 89.2 100 99.7 959C9L 82.5 98 100 960U4V 85 99.8 100 961X6A 81.7 98.2 99.7 416U7M 80.8 97.3 100 802R2X 83.3 100 100 LSD 9.6 3.2 0.5

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, 926Y7O was slightly less efficacious than the other formulations.

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control at 15 DAT, on IPOLA is reported in Table 1i. The IPOLA was at the 1-2 leaf growth stage and was 5-10 cm in height.

TABLE 1i 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 83.3 98.8 99.5 403E5Y 83.8 99.5 99.7 BANVEL 85 99.8 99.8 925S3J 85.5 98 100 926Y7O 89.7 94.8 99.5 955C3D 85 97.5 99.8 956N5T 89.2 100 99.7 959C9L 82.5 98 100 960U4V 85 99.8 100 961X6A 81.7 98.2 99.7 416U7M 80.8 97.3 100 802R2X 83.3 100 100 LSD 9.6 3.2 0.5

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, 926Y7O was slightly less efficacious than the other formulations.

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control at 18 DAT, on ABUTH is reported in Table 1j. The ABUTH was at the 5-6 leaf growth stage and was 10-15 cm in height.

TABLE 1j 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 25 52 79 962P0H 36 58 84 929P6H 39 59 85 926Y7O 44 67 90 066P9C 39 68 82 068I4B 28 54 74 070J7X 38 58 84 071Q5H 41 65 83 532U3W 32 58 83 LSD 7.5 58 83

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, all six formulations of the present invention gave greater efficacy than CLARITY. At the application rate of 280 g a.e./ha, formulations 926Y7O, 066P9C and 071Q5H were more efficacious than CLARITY. At the application rate of 561 g a.e./ha, formulation 926Y7O was more efficacious than CLARITY. The data appear to indicate that higher efficacy is achieved at lower polyvinylpyrrolidone loading.

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control at 21 DAT, on ABUTH is reported in Table 1k. The ABUTH was at the 5-6 leaf growth stage and was 10-15 cm in height.

TABLE 1k 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 36.7 63.3 79.2 962P0H 36.7 64.2 82.5 925S3J 42.5 64.2 84.2 926Y7O 39.2 70 92.2 956N5T 45 72.5 88.3 959C9L 47.5 71.7 91.3 960U4V 45.8 78.3 92.2 961X6A 45.8 65.8 91.8 963E2Z 41.7 75 88.3 929P6H 44.2 75.8 90.5 908D1S 45 73.3 85 LSD 4.9 7.3 4.8

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, all formulations of the present invention except 926Y7O gave greater efficacy than CLARITY. At the application rate of 280 g a.e./ha, formulations 956N5T, 959C9L, 960U4V, 963E2Z, 929P6H and 908D1S were more efficacious than CLARITY. At the application rate of 561 g a.e./ha, all formulations of the present invention were more efficacious than CLARITY and MEA dicamba (962P0H).

The result of the efficacy trials, in % control at 21 DAT, on White clover (TRFRE) is reported in Table 1l. The TRFRE was at greater than 12 leaf growth stage and was 10-15 cm in height.

TABLE 1l 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 45 62 76 962P0H 44 63 73 925S3J 51 74 80 926Y7O 53 62 85 956N5T 62 79 86 959C9L 52 70 78 960U4V 60 78 84 961X6A 58 67 89 963E2Z 56 73 83 929P6H 56 59 81 908D1S 55 66 83 LSD 6.5 7.5 7.1

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate, all formulations of the present invention except 925S3J gave greater efficacy than CLARITY and MEA dicamba. At the application rate of 280 g a.e./ha, formulations 956N5T, 959C9L, 960U4V, 963E2Z and 925S3J were slightly more efficacious than CLARITY. At the application rate of 561 g a.e./ha, formulations 956N5T, 926Y70, 960U4V and 961X6A were slightly more efficacious than CLARITY.

Overall, the data of Tables 1b through 1k show that the herbicidal performance of dicamba can be improved as compared to the commercial products CLARITY and BANVEL. The etheramine surfactant Surfonic AGM 550 surfactant and surf2, comprising a mixture of a cationic alkyl ether amine surfactant and an anionic alkyl ether phosphate surfactant, provided the greatest dicamba herbicidal activity. Of the surfactants, the alkylpolyglucoside gave the least improvement also ABUTH control was improved as compared to CLARITY. The data further show that polymers can give substantially equivalent dicamba efficacy enhancement as do surfactants.

The efficacy of application mixtures prepared from Table 1b formulations, CLARITY, and 480 g/L MEA dicamba (formulations 943Q1H and 944L8M) were evaluated on velvetleaf (ABUTH). For each trial, dicamba was applied post-emergent to 10-15 cm velvetleaf at rates of 140, 280 and 560 grams a.e./ha. The results of the efficacy trial in % control at 22 DAT are reported in Table 1m

TABLE 1m Formulation 140 g ae/ha 280 g ae/ha 560 g ae/ha 943Q1H 60.0 70.8 83.3 944L8M 65.8 78.3 85.0 7601W8J 70.0 79.2 91.7 7602G5V 61.7 69.2 80.0 7603A1D 60.0 68.3 74.2 7604P0K 58.3 68.3 79.2 7605L6Y 60.8 65.8 73.3 7606M4R 56.7 61.7 67.5 CLARITY 56.7 70.8 82.5 962P0H 63.3 66.7 74.2

The ANOVA summary of formulation mean comparisons by rate indicated that at 140 g/L and 280 g/L 944L8M was more efficacious than CLARITY. Formulation 7601W8J was more efficacious than CLARITY at all 3 rates tested. At more than one rate, formulations 7605L6Y and 7606M4R were less efficacious than CLARITY.

Potassium dicamba formulations from Table 1b, CLARITY, and 480 g/L MEA dicamba were tested for their post-emergent control of 15 cm velvetleaf at 70, 140, 280 and 560 grams a.e./ha. The results of the efficacy trial in % control at 22 DAT are reported in Table 1n.

TABLE 1n 70 g 140 g 280 g 560 g Form. ae/ha ae/ha ae/ha ae/ha 7191U4V 31.7 55.0 65.8 79.2 7192E8K 40.0 55.8 65.8 78.3 7193E3C 45.0 56.7 65.8 73.3 7194R5X 32.5 51.7 62.5 75.0 719507T 42.5 64.2 70.0 84.2 7196M9K 38.3 49.2 74.2 87.5 CLARITY 29.2 55.8 65.0 75.8 962P0H 37.5 55.0 67.5 76.7

All experimental formulations of potassium dicamba with polyimine polymers from Table In provided equivalent or superior control of ABUTH compared to CLARITY.

Potassium dicamba formulations from Table 1 b, CLARITY, 962P0H, and 931F5L were tested for their post-emergent control of 15 cm velvetleaf at 70, 140, 280 and 560 grams a.e./ha. The results of the efficacy trial in % control at 22 DAT are reported in Table 1o

TABLE 1o 70 g 140 g 280 g 560 g Form. ae/ha ae/ha ae/ha ae/ha 1381X4R 55.8 62.5 68.3 84.2 1382P2H 52.5 62.5 65.8 80.8 1383T5B 48.3 59.2 67.5 78.3 1384U5U 50.0 62.5 67.5 80.8 1385A4S 55.8 61.7 68.3 81.7 1386J7G 54.2 65.0 66.7 81.7 CLARITY 50.8 63.3 72.5 85.8 931F5L 55.8 62.5 69.2 83.3 962P0H 50.0 65.0 70.8 85.0

The efficacy of certain application mixtures from Table 1 b, CLARITY, 962P0H and 931F5L were evaluated on velvetleaf (ABUTH). For each trial, dicamba was applied post-emergent to 15 cm velvetleaf at rates of 140, 280 and 560 grams a.e./ha. The results of the efficacy trial in % control at 22 DAT are reported in Table 1p.

TABLE 1p 140 g 280 g 560 g Form. ae/ha ae/ha ae/ha 8145A6B 60.0 76.7 91.7 8145B7U 56.7 79.2 90.0 8145C2Z 51.7 75.0 90.0 8146A8A 64.2 79.2 92.5 8146B2K 58.3 81.7 92.5 8146C9K 64.2 73.3 90.8 8147A1E 58.3 82.5 92.5 8147B8N 58.3 79.2 92.5 8147C4F 55.8 80.0 91.7 Clarity 50.8 66.7 90.0 931F5L 61.7 75.8 90.8 962P0H 55.0 75.8 93.3

At 140 and 280 grams a.e./ha all experimental formulations from Table 1b provided equivalent or superior control of ABUTH in comparison to CLARITY. At 540 grams a.e./ha all experimental formulations from Table 1p were equivalent to CLARITY.

Example 2

Aqueous formulations comprising MEA dicamba and various coco and tallow di- and tri-amine ethoxylates were prepared as indicated in Table 2a wherein the dicamba concentration in each formulation was 633 g a.e./ha (47.9 wt % a.e.) and the concentration of the other components in wt % is indicated in parenthesis.

TABLE 2a Formulation 504A3F 504B5T 504C8N 504D3J MEA Dicamba 61 61 61 61 Surfactant Surf9 (10) Surf10 (10) Surf11 (10) Surf12(10) (wt %) Formulation 504E7C 504F2I 504G0L 504H6T MEA Dicamba 61 61 61 61 Surfactant Surf13 (10) Surf14 (10) Surf15 (10) Surf16(10) (wt %) Formulation 504I8L 504J4P 504K1B 504L9O MEA Dicamba 61 61 61 61 Surfactant Surf17 (10) Surf18 (10) Surf19 (10) Surf20(10) (wt %) Formulation 504M6K 504N5U 504O7X 50P1F MEA Dicamba 61 61 61 61 Surfactant Surf21 (10) Surf22 (10) Surf23 (10) Surf24(10) (wt %) Formulation 504Q3D 504R6E 504S9M 504T7Q MEA Dicamba 61 61 61 61 Surfactant Surf25 (10) Surf26 (10) Surf27 (10) Surf28(10) (wt %)

The formulations from Table 2a and CLARITY were sprayed over the top of velvetleaf (ABUTH) plants evaluate herbicidal efficacy at application rates of 140, 280 and 561 g a.e./ha in the equivalent of 93 liters per hectare (L/ha) water. Herbicidal efficacy was evaluated at 22 days after treatment (DAT). The data is presented in Table 2b in an ANOVA summary of formulations mean comparisons by rate.

TABLE 2b 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 42.5 59.2 79.2 926Y7O 45 58.3 79.2 504A3F 45 64.2 80 504B5T 42.5 63.3 82.5 504C8N 45 64.2 83.3 504D3J 49.2 65 83.3 504E7C 48.3 63.3 77.5 504F2I 44.2 61.7 78.3 504G0L 49.2 66.7 80.8 504H6T 49.2 63.3 78.3 504I8L 49.2 65.8 79.2 504J4P 50 68.3 81.7 LSD 4.1 4.5 4.9 140 g 280 g 561 g Formulation a.e./ha a.e./ha a.e./ha CLARITY 46.7 69.2 85 926Y7O 55 71.7 89.7 504K1B 52.5 77.5 89.2 504L9O 53.3 76.7 90.5 504M6K 49.2 73.3 90.8 504N5U 51.7 80 90.5 504O7X 60 72.5 88.3 50P1F 52.5 71.7 90.5 504Q3D 55 76.7 88.3 504R6E 54.2 71.7 91 504S9M 46.7 72.5 87.5 504T7Q 53.3 71.7 87.2 LSD 5.7 3.8 4.7

The experimental formulations were generally more efficacious than the CLARITY standard. None of the surfactants provided a clear efficacy advantage on ABUTH at higher application rates. At lower application rates, the Ethomeen YT series of surfactants provided good ABUTH efficacy.

Example 3

The specific gravity and pH of potassium and MEA dicamba aqueous solutions were evaluated. The results are reported in Table 3a wherein “Dicamba wt %” refers to weight percent acid equivalent dicamba in solution and “SG” refers to specific gravity in grams per mL. The pH of MEA dicamba was measured for two lots of material.

TABLE 3a K Dicamba MEA Dicamba Dicamba wt % SG pH SG pH pH g a.e./L 5 1.03 5.4 1.02 6.6 8.3 — 10 1.05 5.4 1.05 6.7 8.4 — 15 1.09 5.4 1.07 6.8 8.5 — 20 1.12 5.9 1.09 6.9 8.55 — 25 1.15 6.3 1.12 7 8.6 — 30 1.18 6.5 1.14 7.1 8.65 291 35 1.22 6.8 1.17 7.3 8.7 391 40 1.25 7 1.2 7.4 8.8 478 45 1.29 7.3 1.23 7.5 8.85 554 50 1.33 7.6 1.25 7.6 8.9 623 55 1.36 7.8 1.28 7.7 8.95 684 60 1.4 8.1 1.31 7.8 9 741

The data indicate that solutions of potassium dicamba have a greater specific gravity and lower pH at a given concentration than do solutions of MEA dicamba.

In a set of experiments, the crystallization behavior of formulations containing MEA dicamba, potassium glyphosate and a surfactant was evaluated. The formulation of the experimental dicamba formulations are indicated in Table 3b below where dicamba concentration is reported in wt % a.e., the surfactant concentration is reported in wt %, “SG” refers to specific gravity (20/18.6), “Ratio K:MEA” refers to the ratio (a.e. basis) of potassium glyphosate to MEA dicamba, “surf” refers to surfactant, and “Xtals” refers to crystals. Approximately 3-5 mL of each solution was placed into a 60 mL jar and left uncovered in a fume hood to dry at ambient humidity and temperature. The solutions were visually observed periodically for the presence of crystalline residue as the water evaporated from the solution.

TABLE 3b Form. 957A 857A 858A 858B 859A Ratio K:MEA 0:1 1:1 3:1 1:3 1:0 K-gly wt % a.e. 0 23.6 36.1 12.1 46.3 MEA-dicamba 61 23.6 12.1 36.1 0 wt % a.e. surf. none surf3 surf3 surf3 surf3 wt % surf 0 10 10 10 10 SG 1.2606 1.2859 1.249 1.2913 Xtals @1 day no yes yes no yes Xtals @3 days no yes yes no yes Xtals @3 days no yes yes no yes Form. 864 865 866 867 Ratio K:MEA 3:1 1:3 1:1 1:0 K-gly wt % a.e. 35 12.1 23.9 46.5 MEA-dicamba 11.6 36.1 23.9 0 wt % a.e. surf. surf2 surf2 surf2 surf2 wt % surf 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 SG 1.2839 1.2589 1.276 1.3049 Xtals @1 day yes no no yes Xtals @3 days yes no yes yes Xtals @20 days yes no yes yes

In a second set of experiments, the crystallization behavior of formulations containing MEA dicamba, potassium glyphosate, a surfactant and 5 wt % glycerine was evaluated. The formulation of the experimental dicamba formulations is indicated in Table 3c. The method described above for the date in Table 3b was used for crystallization evaluation.

TABLE 3c Form 877 878 879 Ratio K:MEA 1:0 1:0 1:0 K-gly wt % a.e. 46.4 46.4 46.4 MEA-dicamba 0 0 0 wt % a.e. surf. surf2 surf1 surf3 wt % surf 10 10 10 wt % glycerin 5 5 5 SG 1.3189 1.3227 1.3082 Xtals @3 days yes yes yes

Example 4

The volatility of the sodium, potassium, DMA, MEA, IPA and DGA salts of dicamba contained in aqueous formulations were measured in distillation experiments.

Solutions of each of the sodium, potassium, DMA, MEA, IPA and DGA salts of dicamba were prepared as 10% stock solutions at a mole ratio of approximately 1:1 dicamba acid to base. To alter the pH, either dicamba acid was added or base was added. The pH was measured on a standard Orion Model 320 pH meter of each neat solution. For the distillations, the salt solutions were diluted to obtain a dicamba concentration of 5%, 2%, and 1% a.e. while compensating for any added base or dicamba acid to adjust pH. The Diglycolamine salt solutions were prepared using Clarity®, a 38.5% a.e. dicamba solution.

Simple distillation using a short path still was used to collect the water distillate containing the dicamba in the vapor phase of the salt solutions. A 50 mL distillation flask was used. The distillation receiver was a “cow” type with four 2 mL graduated sections. The solutions were heated at the 30% setting of the GlassCol heating unit and the boiling point of each distillation was noted. The first 2 ml of distillate was collected, and the receiver rotated to avoid collection of any further distillate in that section as the distillation flask cooled. The 2 mL sample was quantitatively transferred by pipette to HPLC vials for later analysis. Between each distillation the distillation apparatus was washed with 10 volumes of tap water, 10 volumes of distilled water, rinsed with acetone, and dried in a 60° C. oven. Each distillation was run in triplicate.

The distillate was collected and analyzed for dicamba concentration using HPLC/Mass Spectroscopy (MS). The HPLC column was an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8, 4.6×150 mm, 5u, PN 993967-90. Mobile phase A was 0.1% formic acid in D.I. water. Mobile phase B was 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. A flow rate of 1.2 mL/min was used and an injection volume of 5, 10, 15 or 25 ul was used depending on the dicamba level in the sample. The following gradient was used:

Time % A % B 0 100 0 7.5 0 100 10 0 100 10.1 100 0 15 100 0

The MS parameters were as follows: Type SIR; ES− ion mode; 0.05 second inter channel delay; 0.05 second interscan time; 0.5 span (Da); 10 minutes elapsed time; and 6-6000 ppb calibration range. Channel 1 mass was 175 (Da); Dwell was 0.25 (s); Cone(V)=tune and; 0.05 (s) delay. Channel 2 mass was 177 (Da); Dwell was 0.25 (s); Cone(V)=tune and; 0.05 (s) delay.

Differences in the amount of dicamba in the distillate of dicamba salt solutions were found with changing cation, concentration, and pH. Tables 4a through 4f summarize the data for all experiments. These tables show the mean values of Dicamba concentration in the distillate from the triplicate distillations. The standard deviation is shown.

TABLE 4a Distillation and liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) results for Na Dicamba salt solution at varying pH and concentration. % a.e. Solution Mean Dicamba in Standard Salt Dicamba pH Distillate (ppm) Dev Na 5% 3.36 11.57 0.498 Na 5% 4.34 2.36 0.047 Na 5% 6.32 0.77 0.186 Na 5% 10.36 0.45 0.044 Na 5% 12.15 0.22 0.071 Na 2% 3.33 5.74 0.337 Na 2% 4.29 1.39 0.486 Na 2% 6.28 0.32 0.165 Na 2% 9.93 0.16 0.074 Na 2% 11.50 0.15 0.077 Na 1% 3.31 3.42 1.174 Na 1% 4.25 0.70 0.117 Na 1% 6.19 0.13 0.013 Na 1% 9.82 0.09 0.022 Na 1% 11.15 0.06 0.020

TABLE 4b Distillation and LC/MS results for MEA Dicamba salt solution at varying pH and concentration. % a.e. Solution Mean Dicamba in Standard Salt Dicamba pH Distillate (ppm) Dev MEA 5% 3.61 4.58 0.165 MEA 5% 4.44 1.71 0.518 MEA 5% 6.87 0.54 0.068 MEA 5% 8.03 0.27 0.054 MEA 5% 9.32 0.33 0.151 MEA 2% 2.90 12.05 NA MEA 2% 4.81 0.48 NA MEA 2% 4.89 0.36 NA MEA 2% 6.4 0.4 NA MEA 2% 7.25 0.25 NA MEA 2% 8.03 0.18 NA MEA 2% 9.21 0.1 NA MEA 1% 3.68 1.39 0.208 MEA 1% 4.34 0.39 0.075 MEA 1% 6.81 0.37 0.218 MEA 1% 7.84 0.08 0.019

TABLE 4c Distillation and LC/MS results for DGA Dicamba salt solution at varying pH and concentration % a.e. Solution Mean Dicamba in Standard Salt Dicamba pH Distillate (ppm) Dev DGA 5% 4.57 2.11 1.154 DGA 5% 6.35 0.75 0.174 DGA 5% 8.26 0.58 0.082 DGA 5% 9.03 0.32 0.094 DGA 2% 4.17 1.10 0.275 DGA 2% 6.44 0.31 0.081 DGA 2% 8.22 0.28 0.129 DGA 2% 8.92 0.19 0.028 DGA 1% 4.23 0.46 0.032 DGA 1% 6.48 0.18 0.009 DGA 1% 8.24 0.13 0.030 DGA 1% 8.88 0.12 0.013

TABLE 4d Distillation and LC/MS results for IPA Dicamba salt solution at varying pH and concentration % a.e. Solution Mean Dicamba in Standard Salt Dicamba pH Distillate (ppm) Dev IPA 5% 3.44 5.85 0.785 IPA 5% 4.33 3.14 0.482 IPA 5% 4.94 3.77 1.081 IPA 5% 8.24 2.47 0.170 IPA 5% 9.28 12.57 1.502 IPA 2% 3.37 3.65 1.132 IPA 2% 4.36 1.42 0.625 IPA 2% 5.10 0.94 0.344 IPA 2% 8.13 0.75 0.118 IPA 2% 9.20 3.43 1.034 IPA 1% 3.41 1.42 0.283 IPA 1% 4.40 0.42 0.036 IPA 1% 5.13 0.37 0.082 IPA 1% 8.10 0.72 0.575 IPA 1% 9.13 1.22 0.088

TABLE 4e Distillation and LC/MS results for DMA Dicamba salt solution at varying pH and concentration % a.e. Solution Mean Dicamba in Standard Salt Dicamba pH Distillate (ppm) Dev DMA 5% 3.18 20.10 3.212 DMA 5% 4.22 2.67 0.550 DMA 5% 5.58 2.06 1.184 DMA 5% 8.69 8.43 1.001 DMA 5% 10.17 12.34 2.335 DMA 2% 3.20 9.19 1.315 DMA 2% 4.25 1.08 0.087 DMA 2% 5.97 0.83 0.161 DMA 2% 8.66 1.98 0.104 DMA 2% 10.24 4.88 3.060 DMA 1% 3.25 4.50 0.566 DMA 1% 4.36 0.57 0.052 DMA 1% 6.11 0.30 0.103 DMA 1% 8.53 0.73 0.079 DMA 1% 10.12 1.32 0.543

TABLE 4f Distillation and LC/MS results for Dicamba acid solution with varying concentration wt % a.e. Dist Std dicamba pH ppm Dev 0.5 1.84 19.6 5.3 1 <1.2 56.5 21.4 2 <1.2 151.1 11.2

For all of the solutions studied, as the concentration of Dicamba in the solution increased, the amount of Dicamba in the distillate increased. The data suggests that pH significantly affects the amount of Dicamba entering the vapor phase. In distillations with salts of Na, K, MEA, and DGA, as the pH is increased, the amount of Dicamba measured in the distillate is decreased. With the IPA and DMA salts, this trend holds until the pH is 6-7, but at a higher pH values, the amount of Dicamba measured in the distillate is increased. The data show that the low volatility cation salts, Na, K, MEA and DGA, all have similar volatilities at a given pH. In one explanation, the more volatile cations IPA and DMA show more dicamba in the distillate at higher pH because as the solution distills, a significant amount of the cation (DMA or IPA) is distilling from the solution. This leads to an effectively lower pH in the solution being distilled and a resultant higher amount of dicamba being distilled from the solution. Another possible explanation is that the volatile cations are co-distilling from the solutions with dicamba, particularly when the original pH of the distillation solution is greater than 7.

To investigate the increased volatility with the DMA salt at a pH greater than about 6 to 7, the concentration of the amine was measured in the distillate in a separate experiment, and is shown in Table 4g. The data shows that at higher pH there is a larger amount of amine entering the vapor phase. It is also significant to note that at an acidic pH (3.6) there was no detectable amine in the distillate by HPLC analysis. The data also show a resulting lowering of the pH from the solution in the distillation flask from loss of amine as one might expect from distillation of the base from the solution.

TABLE 4g pH and concentration of dimethylamine after distillation of 5% a.e. DMA Dicamba solutions pH Solution After Starting Solution pH Distillation ppm DMA in Distillate 3.60 3.58 Undetectable 8.20 7.04  400 ppm 10.10 6.4 5000 ppm

Table 4h provides a summary of dicamba in the distillate of 5% a.e. Dicamba solutions at approximately neutral pH. While it is difficult to directly compare the values as the pH of each solution is slightly different, the relative difference are clear that the more volatile amine salts have a higher concentration of dicamba in the distillate compared to the lower volatile cation salts DGA Na, K, and MEA. These lower volatility salts also showed a pH dependent trend of lower amounts of dicamba in the distillate as the pH increases.

TABLE 4h Dicamba concentration in distillate for 5% a.e. salt solutions at the near neutral pH Salt pH ppm Dicamba in distillate Na 6.32 0.8 K 7.06 0.6 MEA 6.87 0.5 MEA 8.03 0.3 DGA 6.35 0.8 DGA 8.26 0.6 DMA 5.58 2.1 DMA 8.69 8.4 IPA 8.24 2.5

In a further set of experiments, measurements of dicamba concentration in the gas phase (air) above 38.5 wt % a.e. solutions of various dicamba salts was measured. 5 mL of each sample of dicamba was placed into a 50 mL plastic centrifuge tube with four holes approximately ⅛ in diameter drilled into the tube at the 10 mL line. A 22 mm×30 mm PUF (SKC ct. #226-124) was placed into a glass tube of app. 20 mm diameter with parafilm wrapped around the outside to obtain a snug fit into the top of the centrifuge tube. A hose was connected to the other end of the glass tube leading to a vacuum line. The air flow was regulated to app. 2 L/min using a flow controller (about 0.4 L air/min-mL sample). Air was pulled through the tube at app. 1 L/min for approximately 1 day. Note that the air conditions of flow rate, temperature, pressure and composition (e.g., relative humidity) are not narrowly critical as long as the various samples are analyzed under similar conditions. For instance, air at from about 5° C. to about 40° C., from about 0.5 to about 1.5 bar pressure, from about 0% to about 95% relative humidity, and at a flow rate of from about 0.1 to 10 L/min-mL sample could be suitably used for volatility analysis. The PUF was removed from the glass tube, extracted with 20 mL methanol and the resulting solution analyzed for dicamba concentration by LC-MS. The results are shown in Table 4i below where “wt % a.e.” refers to the dicamba concentration, “μg/mL” refers to the dicamba concentration in the distillate, “μg dicamba” refers to the total dicamba extracted from the PUF by 20 mL methanol, and “ng/L air” and “moles/L air” refer to the dicamba concentration in the gas phase above the solution.

TABLE 4i wt % μg ng/L Dicamba salt a.e. μg/mL dicamba air moles/L air sodium (pH 2.7) 35.8 3.55 71 9.86 4.46 × 10⁻¹¹ potassium (pH 10.5) 35.8 0.24 4.8 0.67 3.02 × 10⁻¹² MEA 35.8 0.02 0.4 0.056 2.51 × 10⁻¹³ BANVEL (DMA salt) 40 0.42 8.4 1.17 5.28 × 10⁻¹² dicamba acid 99 15.3 305.4 42.4 1.92 × 10⁻¹⁰

The MEA salt showed a dicamba concentration in the gas phase above the solution lower than the acid or the sodium, potassium and DMA salts. Notably, the MEA salt had a gas concentration on the order of 20 times less than the commercial product BANVEL.

In a further set of experiments, measurements of dicamba concentration in the gas phase (air) above 10 wt % a.e. solutions of various MEA dicamba formulations and CLARITY (DGA dicamba salt) was measured. The method was as follows:

Equipment: Polyurethane Foam (PUF) plug approximately 22 mm×30 mm available from SKC Inc., cat. No. CPM100108-003; 50 mL PET, Centrifuge tube, Corning cat No. 430290, with a hole drilled into the wall app. % inch above the 20 mL line on the tube with a ⅛ inch drill bit; Glass tube to hole the PUF app. 30 mm iD with a nipple on one end to attach to a Tygon Tube; Ring Stand; Parafilm; Air Pump; Constant Humidity/temperature chamber, such as a growth chamber or Incubator; Solutions of dicamba.

Procedure: The procedure took place in a growth chamber at a temperature of 35° C. and relative humidity of 30%. A PUF was placed into the glass tube. The top of the tube was wrapped with parafilm such that it would fit snuggly into the top of the centrifuge tube. 10 mL of the dicamba a.e. solution prepared to be approximately 20% a.e. dicamba was placed into the centrifuge tube. The tube was attached to the ring stand and held in a vertical position. The glass tube was fitted into the top of the centrifuge tube. A tygon tube was connected to the nipple on the glass tube. This tube was connected to an air pump through a needle valve to control the air flow at 2 liters per minute (about 0.2 L air/min-mL sample). The air pump was started and air pulled through the tube for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the pump was turned off and the PUF removed from the glass tube. The PUF was placed into 20 mL of methanol to extract the dicamba. The amount of dicamba was quantified by LC/Mass Spectrometric analysis.

The results are shown in Table 4j below wherein formulations 506C3N, 5851AR and 566E7H each contained Lupasol SK polymer (poly5) at a 1:1 weight ratio of dicamba a.e. to polymer and formulations 5851 BT and 565B81 each contained dicamba MEA in the absence of polymer. The reported results for formulation 506C3N is the average of 6 samples, each tested in duplicate, and the remaining results represent the average of 4 samples, each tested in duplicate. In the table, “S.D.” refers to standard deviation, “% RSD” refers to percent relative standard deviation and “Form. pH” refers to the pH of the dicamba formulation.

TABLE 4j Form. Dicamba (ng/L) Dicamba (ng/L) S.D. % RSD Form. pH 506C3N 0.111 0.049 44.05 8.26 CLARITY 0.696 0.066 9.50 6.94 5851AR 0.036 0.010 27.42 9.43 5851BT 0.047 0.017 35.77 9.62 CLARITY 0.611 0.072 11.78 6.94 566E7H 0.138 0.088 63.61 6.92 565B8I 1.513 0.172 11.34 7.16

The data indicate that Lupasol reduced MEA dicamba volatilization by about 25% at a pH of about 9.5 and by about 1000% at a pH of about 7.

In a further set of experiments, measurements of dicamba concentration in the gas phase (air) above 10 wt % a.e. solutions of various MEA dicamba formulations, CLARITY (DGA dicamba salt) and BANVEL (DMA dicamba salt) were measured and are reported in Table 4k below. The method was as described above for the data of Table 4j. The reported results are the average of 4 or 6 samples, each tested in duplicate. In the table, “Form.” refers to formulation number, “ng/L” refers to the dicamba concentration above the 10 wt % a.e. dicamba solutions, “SD” refers to standard deviation, “pH” refers to the pH of the formulation, “Test mL” refers to the volume of dicamba solution tested and “Ratio” refers to the weight ratio of dicamba a.e. to polymer where the identity of the polymer is indicated in parentheses.

TABLE 4k Ratio Form. ng/L SD pH Test mL (polymer) CLARITY 0.65 0.08 6.9 10 no polymer CLARITY 1.17 0.06 6.98 20 no polymer CLARITY 0.41 0.02 7.8 10 no polymer CLARITY 0.05 0.02 7.8 10 8:1 (poly5) BANVEL 3.43 1.59 6.14 10 no polymer BANVEL 5.68 2.21 6.38 20 no polymer BANVEL 1.53 0.32 8.1 10 no polymer 565K8T 16.53 0.94 3.2 10 no polymer 565L9U 1.78 0.20 6.06 10 no polymer 565M7G 0.88 0.12 6.12 10 no polymer 565N3K 1.22 0.10 7.08 10 no polymer 565B8X 1.51 0.17 7.16 10 no polymer 565B8X 3.56 0.59 7.17 20 no polymer 565O2V 0.48 0.05 8.01 10 no polymer 957Y2S 0.98 0.31 8.44 20 no polymer 565C6L 0.38 0.13 8.53 20 no polymer 565D0J 0.19 0.04 9.04 20 no polymer 5851BR 0.05 0.02 9.62 10 no polymer 565CC8I7 0.21 0.04 7.09 10 8:1 (poly1) 565DD2K9 0.17 0.03 8.05 10 8:1 (poly1) 565EE3E2 0.05 0.01 9.12 10 8:1 (poly1) 565P5G 0.17 0.01 5.73 10 8:1 (poly5) 566E6Y 0.14 0.09 6.92 10 8:1 (poly5) 506C7J 0.25 0.08 8.23 20 8:1 (poly5) 506C7J 0.54 0.18 8.24 20 8:1 (poly5) 506D9P 0.18 0.05 8.74 20 8:1 (poly5) 5851AT 0.04 0.01 9.43 10 8:1 (poly5) 565Q9L 1.10 0.24 7.19 10 100:1 (poly5) 565R7F 0.31 0.09 8.03 10 100:1 (poly5) 565S3T 0.06 0.01 8.98 10 100:1 (poly5) 565T4V 0.44 0.03 7.62 10 20:1 (poly5) 565U8S 0.20 0.10 8.24 10 20:1 (poly5) 565V7M 0.05 0.02 9.25 10 20:1 (poly5) 565W0J 0.50 0.15 7.19 10 100:1 (poly2) 565Y1U 0.25 0.06 9.03 10 100:1 (poly2) 565X3Y 0.06 0.03 9.00 10 100:1 (poly2) 565Z5R 0.34 0.28 7.37 10 20:1 (poly2) 565AA3B 0.14 0.04 8.26 10 20:1 (poly2) 565BB7H 0.04 0.02 9.17 10 20:1 (poly2)

The results indicate that polymer reduces dicamba volatility. At pH 7, even a 100:1 weight ratio of dicamba a.e. to polymer provided a small volatility reduction.

Example 5

Aqueous formulations comprising 601 g a.e./L MEA dicamba (48.3 wt % a.e.) were combined with from 1 to 10 wt % polyimine polymers having a range of molecular weights as indicated in Table 5a below. Each of the formulations was a clear solution.

TABLE 5a Component 1 Component 2 Formulation Polymer wt % Surfactant wt % 151J6M — — — — 152F5X — — Surf3 6 153P0L Poly1 5 — — 154V4V Poly1 5 Surf3 6 161L8I Poly2 5 — — 162N4R Poly2 5 Surf3 6 163L1K Poly3 5.7 — — 164A2D Poly3 5 Surf3 6 171H3P Poly4 7.6 — — 172G5F Poly4 7.6 Surf3 6

The formulations from Table 5a, previously described formulations 962P0H, 926Y70, 956N5T, formulation 962-2A (containing 480 g a.e./L (40 wt % a.e.) MEA dicamba with no surfactant, and CLARITY were applied postemergence at rates of 140, 280 and 561 g a.e./ha on 10-15 cm high Velvetleaf and evaluated 18 days after treatment. The results in % control are reported in Table 5b below.

TABLE 5b Formulation 140 g a.e./ha 280 g a.e./ha 561 g a.e./ha CLARITY 58.3 86.7 91.8 962P0H 52.5 86.7 91.7 962-2A 70.8 87.5 93 926Y7O 65.8 85 95.7 956N5T 65.8 86.7 94.3 151J6M 70.8 87.5 93 152F5X 62.5 86.7 95.2 153P0L 70.8 87.5 93 154V4V 68.3 88.3 91.7 161L8I 72.5 85 92.2 162N4R 58.3 85 97.5 163L1K 73.3 90 91.7 164A2D 67.5 88.3 93 171H3P 66.7 85.8 93.5 172G5F 69.2 85.8 93 LSD 6.5 5.6 3.9

The bioefficacy data shows an increase in dicamba activity at an application rate of 140 g a.e./ha and no reduction in dicamba activity at application rates of 280 and 561 g a.e./ha for the formulations comprising the polymers as compared to formulations comprising a surfactant in the absence of a polymer or the combination of a surfactant and a polymer. At an application rate of 140 g a.e./ha, formulations 151 J6M, 153P0L, 154V4V, 161L81, 163L1K and 172G5F were significantly more efficacious than CLARITY.

Example 6

Aqueous formulations comprising 600 g a.e./L MEA dicamba (48.3 wt % a.e.) were prepared as indicated in Table 6a below where “Form” refers to formulation. All of the formulations were clear, homogeneous solutions. The formulations were evaluated for spraying characteristics.

TABLE 6a Component 1 Component 2 Form polymer wt % Surfactant wt % 019A8J Poly5 3.5 — — 019B6Y Poly5 3.5 Surf3 6 019C9J Poly5 6 — —

The formulations from Table 6a, previously described formulations 151J6M, 152F5X, 962P0H, 926Y7O and 956N5T and CLARITY were applied postemergence at rates of 140, 280 and 561 g a.e./ha on 10-15 cm high Velvetleaf and evaluated 18 days after treatment. The results in % control are reported in Table 6b below.

TABLE 6b Formulation 140 g a.e./ha 280 g a.e./ha 561 g a.e./ha CLARITY 60.0 83.3 96.5 962P0H 68.3 84.2 98.5 926Y7O 71.7 87.5 97.7 956N5T 70.0 92.5 96.3 019A8J 71.7 88.3 96.3 019B6Y 72.5 91.7 98.3 019C9J 75.8 89.2 96.7 151J6M 75.0 87.5 95.5 152F5X 80.8 90.8 98.0 LSD 6.5 2.4 2.2

The formulations and the comparative formulation CLARITY were diluted in water to a dicamba concentration of 0.77 wt % a.e. The diluted formulations were sprayed using the method for greenhouse efficacy testing on plant, as describe above, on water sensitive paper that changes color (to blue) where a spray drop contacts the paper. The CLARITY composition produced more color on the paper as compared to experimental formulations 019A8J, 019B6Y and 019C9J. The experimental formulations show a comparably more consistent drop size, but still provide good coverage over the paper. The results suggest that polyimines may result in fewer fine droplet particles as compared to CLARITY and can therefore provide some drift control properties to the formulations.

Example 7

The cold temperature stability of aqueous formulations comprising 480 g a.e./L MEA dicamba and 5 wt % polymer formulated at varied mole ratios of MEA to dicamba was evaluated. For each test, approximately 50 mL of each formulation was placed into a glass bottle. The bottle were placed in an oven or freezer and evaluated after 1 and 4 weeks of storage and observed for any layering, crystal formation or freezing. The pH was evaluated by measurement after dilution to 1 wt % a.e. dicamba. The formulation of the formulations and test results are reported in Table 7a below wherein “MEA:dicamba” refers to the molar ratio of MEA base to dicamba acid, “stable” refers to no phase separation, “Clr. Sin.” refers to clear solution, and “layer” refers to phase separation.

TABLE 7a MEA:mol 0.8:1 0.9:1 1:1 1.1:1 pH 3.87 4.77 8.19 8.94 60° C. Clr. Sln. Stable, Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. 50° C. Stable Stable Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. 0° C. Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Layer −10° C. Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Layer −20° C. Frozen Clr. Sln. Clr. Sln. Layer −30° C. Frozen Frozen Frozen Frozen

The results indicate that at high pH (8.9) layering occurs while at slightly lower pH (8.2) the formulation is stable.

Example 8

Aqueous formulations comprising 480 and 600 g a.e./L MEA dicamba were formulated with varying amounts of Lupasol SK polymer (poly5). Viscosity was measured at 10° C. using a Haake VT550 viscometer @45 RPM. The viscosity results are reported in Table 8a in centipoise.

TABLE 8a Lupasol SK (wt %) 480 g a.e./L dicamba 600 g a.e./L dicamba 0 — 20 1.5 — 105 2 55 — 3 — 280 4 160 460 5 — 700 6 335 — 8 650 — 8.5 770 —

The data show that the viscosity of a formulation increases with increasing amount of polymer and dicamba salt.

Example 9

The compatibility of MEA dicamba and tank mixes containing MEA dicamba with Roundup WeatherMAX® or Roundup PowerMAX® with the drift control agents Gardian®, Gardian Plus®, Dri-Gard®, Pro-One XL™, Array™, Compadre™, In-Place®, Bronc® Max EDT, EDT Concentrate™, Coverage® and Bronc® Plus Dry EDT was evaluated. Aqueous formulations were prepared as described in Table 9a below where “Form” refers to the formulation, “Drift Cont.” refers to the drift control agent, “Amt” refers to the amount, “W.MAX” refers to ROUNDUP WEATHERMAX, and “P.MAX” refers to ROUNDUP POWERMAX.

TABLE 9a ROUND- Form. Drift Cont. Amt. Dicamba UP pH 9A GARDIAN 0.75 mL 0.52 g — 6.2  9B GARDIAN PLUS 5 mL 0.52 g — 6.72 9C DRI-GARD 1.44 g 0.52 g — 7.16 9D PRO-ONE XL 1.56 g 0.52 g — 6.74 9E ARRAY 1.68 g 0.52 g — 7.25 Form. Drift Cont. Amt. Dicamba W.MAX pH 9F GARDIAN 0.75 mL 1 g 3 g 5.13 9G GARDIAN PLUS 5 mL 1 g 3 g 5.01 9H DRI-GARD 1.44 g 1 g 3 g 4.97 9I PRO-ONE XL 1.56 g 1 g 3 g 4.98 9J ARRAY 1.68 g 1 g 3 g 4.96 9K COMPADRE 0.125 mL 1 g 3 g 5.11 9L IN PLACE 1.5 g 1 g 3 g 5.15 9M BRONC MAX EDT 2 mL 1 g 3 g 5.14 9N EDT CONCENTRATE 2 mL 1 g 3 g 5.18 9O COVERAGE 3.1 mL 1 g 3 g 5.14 9P BRONC PLUS DRY 2.4 g 1 g 3 g 5.12 EDT 9Q GARDIAN 0.75 mL 2 g 6 g 5.03 9R GARDIAN PLUS 5 mL 2 g 6 g 4.97 9S DRI-GARD 1.44 g 2 g 6 g 4.94 9T PRO-ONE XL 1.56 g 2 g 6 g 4.96 9U ARRAY 1.68 g 2 g 6 g 5   9V COMPADRE 0.125 mL 2 g 6 g 5.06 9W IN PLACE 1.5 g 2 g 6 g 5.13 9X BRONC MAX EDT 2 mL 2 g 6 g 5.1  9Y EDT CONCENTRATE 2 mL 2 g 6 g 5.08 9Z COVERAGE 3.1 mL 2 g 6 g 5.11 9AA BRONC PLUS DRY 2.4 g 2 g 6 g 5.02 EDT Form. Drift Cont. Amt. Dicamba P.MAX pH 9BB GARDIAN 0.75 mL 1 g 3 g 4.9  9CC GARDIAN PLUS 5 mL 1 g 3 g 4.84 9DD DRI-GARD 1.44 g 1 g 3 g 4.82 9EE PRO-ONE XL 1.56 g 1 g 3 g 4.8  9FF ARRAY 1.68 g 1 g 3 g 4.78 9GG COMPADRE 0.125 mL 1 g 3 g 4.86 9HH IN PLACE 1.5 g 1 g 3 g 4.87 9II BRONC MAX EDT 2 mL 1 g 3 g 4.95 9JJ EDT CONCENTRATE 2 mL 1 g 3 g 4.89 9KK COVERAGE 3.1 mL 1 g 3 g 4.93 9LL BRONC PLUS DRY 2.4 g 1 g 3 g 4.9  EDT 9MM GARDIAN 0.75 mL 2 g 6 g 4.82 9NN GARDIAN PLUS 5 mL 2 g 6 g 4.76 9OO DRI-GARD 1.44 g 2 g 6 g 4.75 9PP PRO-ONE XL 1.56 g 2 g 6 g 4.75 9QQ ARRAY 1.68 g 2 g 6 g 4.76 9RR COMPADRE 0.125 mL 2 g 6 g 4.8  9SS IN PLACE 1.5 g 2 g 6 g 4.87 9TT BRONC MAX EDT 2 mL 2 g 6 g 4.92 9UU EDT CONCENTRATE 2 mL 2 g 6 g 4.9  9VV COVERAGE 3.1 mL 2 g 6 g 4.88 9WW BRONC PLUS DRY 2.4 g 2 g 6 g 4.86 EDT

The Table 9a formulations were evaluated for compatibility by observing the appearance after storage at room temperature after one hour. After one hour, the solutions were poured through a 150 micron sieve and observed for the presence of solids. The results are reported in Table 9b below.

TABLE 9b Form. Observations Separations 9A Clear None 9B Clear None 9C Hazy White None 9D Hazy White None 9E Suspension that separates out in a few Undissolved particles hours 9F Clear None 9G Clear None 9H Hazy None 9I Clear Undissolved particles 9J Suspension that separates out in a few — hours 9K Transparent blue-green solution None 9L Hazy light blue 1 mm cream, 4 mm oil 9M Clear blue None 9N Clear blue None 9O Hazy light blue 5 mm cream, 7 mm oil 9P Very hazy, light blue Undissolved particles 9Q Clear None 9R Clear None 9S Hazy None 9T Dissolved better than with 3 g W.MAX Undissolved particles 9U Suspension that separates out in a few — hours 9V Transparent blue-green solution None 9W Hazy light blue 3 mm oil 9X Clear blue None 9Y Clear blue None 9Z Hazy light blue 1 mm cream, 6 mm oil 9AA Very hazy, light blue Undissolved particles 9BB Clear None 9CC Clear None 9DD Hazy None 9EE Clear None 9FF Suspension that separates out in a few — hours 9GG Clear None 9HH Hazy White 4 mm oil 9II Clear None 9JJ Clear None 9KK Very hazy white 7 mm oil 9LL Clear Undissolved particles 9MM Clear None 9NN Clear None 9OO Hazy None 9PP Clear None 9QQ Suspension that separates out in a few — hours 9RR Clear None 9SS Hazy White 5 mm oil 9TT Clear None 9UU Clear None 9VV Very hazy white 8 mm oil 9WW Clear Undissolved particles

GARDIAN, GARDIAN PLUS, COMPADRE, BRONC MAX EDT and EDT CONCENTRATE were compatible with all of the mixtures and dicamba alone. Each created clear solutions with no separation and left little to no particles on a 150 um sieve. DRI-GARD dissolved well, but the solutions were all hazy. PRO-ONE XL did create clear solutions but some particles would not dissolve in the tests containing ROUNDUP WEATHER MAX. In all cases ARRAY appeared to suspend for a few hours, but precipitated with time leaving a large amount of residue on the Nessler tubes. IN-PLACE and COVERAGE created emulsions that separated quickly. BRONC PLUS DRY EDT did not dissolve completely.

PRO-ONE XL and BRONC PLUS MAX EDT were the only formulations to show clear differences in compatibility between ROUDNUP WEATHER MAX and ROUNDUP POWER MAX. PRO-ONE XL dissolved better in ROUNDUP POWER MAX and BRONC PLUS MAX EDT created a clear solution with Power Max but created a hazy solution with ROUNDUP WEATHER MAX.

Example 10

The aqueous solubility of the various salts of dicamba prepared from the bases sodium, potassium, DGA, MEA and hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) salt of dicamba was measured. The maximum solubility was measured by taking a solution of that salt containing salt crystals and equilibrating the solution at 20° C. and 0° C. for 5 to 7 days. The solution was then passed through a 0.45 micron filter and assayed by HPLC for soluble dicamba. The results are reported in Table 10a below where “salt” refers to the dicamba salt, the solubility in reported in wt % acid equivalent (a.e.) and wt % active ingredient (a.i.).

TABLE 10a 20° C. 20° C. 0° C. 0° C. Salt a.e. a.i. a.e. a.i. Comments Na 36.3 40.3 33 36.3 Crystals form easily K 54.6 64 52.7 61.8 Crystals form on surfaces easily DGA <50 — — — Crystals formed slowly MEA >71.9 >91.8 — — No crystals, sticky oil HMDA 14.1 17.8 11.2 14.1 Pasty solid

The solutions of the MEA and DGA salts were found to be particularly difficult to get to form crystals. The MEA salt solution did not form crystals and it took several weeks for a DGA salt solution at ˜57% a.e. to start to form crystals. It should be noted that, when these salt solutions dry on a glass surface, in some experiments a sticky residue is left that does not form crystals. In other experiments crystals did form upon drying MEA dicamba solutions. The data show that it can be difficult to initiate crystal growth from MEA dicamba solutions.

The Na and K salts formed crystals very readily on a glass surface. As the solution dried, a powdery residue of salt formed quickly and readily.

In a second experiment, the aqueous solubility of the sodium, potassium, DGA and MEA salts of dicamba and dicamba acid were measured at 20° C. was measured. The results are reported in Table 10b below:

TABLE 10b Dicamba wt % a.e. @20° C. wt % a.i. @20° C. acid 0.4 — sodium salt 36.3 40.3 potassium salt 54.6 64 DGA salt 56.5 83.4 MEA salt 66.1 84.4

Example 11

The compatibility of 480 and 600 g a.e./L solutions of MEA dicamba with various surfactants was evaluated as a function of cloud point. The results are reported in Table 11a below where “salt” refers to the dicamba salt, “wt % a.e.” refers to the dicamba concentration, “Surf Conc” refers to the surfactant concentration and “Cld Pt” refers to cloud point. Formulations having a dicamba loading of 38.5-40 wt % a.e. contained about 480 g a.e./L dicamba and formulations having a dicamba loading of 48 wt % a.e. contained about 600 g a.e./L dicamba.

TABLE 11a wt % Surf Form. Salt a.e. Surfactant Conc Cld Pt 11A K 38.5 Surf3  10 wt % >90° C. 11B K 38.5 Surf29 10 wt % >90° C. 11C MEA 38.5 Surf3  10 wt % >90° C. 11D MEA 38.5 Surf29 10 wt % >90° C. 11E MEA 38.5 Surf30 10 wt % >90° C. 11F MEA 38.5 Surf31 10 wt % >90° C. 11G MEA 38.5 Surf32 10 wt % >90° C. 11H MEA 38.5 Surf33 10 wt % >90° C. 11I MEA 38.5 Surf34 10 wt % >90° C. 11J K 38.5 Surf30 10 wt % >90° C. 11K K 38.5 Surf31 10 wt % >90° C. 11L K 38.5 Surf32 10 wt % >90° C. 11M K 38.5 Surf33 10 wt % >90° C. 11N K 38.5 Surf34 10 wt % >90° C. 11O K 38.5 Surf35 10 wt % >90° C. 11P K 38.5 Surf5  10 wt % >90° C. 11Q MEA 38.5 Surf35 10 wt % >90° C. 11R MEA 38.5 Surf5  10 wt % >90° C. 11S MEA 38.5 Surf4  10 wt % >90° C. 11T K 38.5 Surf4  10 wt % >90° C. 11U MEA 38.5 Surf36 0.8 wt %  >90° C. 11V MEA 38.5 Surf36 2.7 wt %  >90° C. 11W MEA 38.5 Surf37 10 wt % >90° C. 11X K 38.5 Surf37 10 wt % >90° C. 11Y K 38.5 Surf2  15 wt % >90° C. 11Z MEA 38.5 Surf2  15 wt % >90° C. 11AA MEA 38.5 Surf40 10 wt % >90° C. 11BB MEA 48 Surf3  10 wt % >90° C. 11CC MEA 48 Surf38 10 wt % >90° C. 11DD MEA 48 Surf1  10 wt % >90° C. 11EE MEA 48 Surf36 1.5 wt %  >90° C. 11FF MEA 48 Surf34 10 wt % >90° C. 11GG MEA 48 Surf39 10 wt % >90° C. 11HH MEA 48 Surf6  10 wt % >90° C. 11II MEA 48 Surf2  10 wt % >90° C. 11JJ MEA 48 Surf4  10 wt % >90° C. 11KK MEA 40 Surf5   8 wt % >90° C. 11LL MEA 48 Surf29 14 wt % >90° C.

It is demonstrated by this data that a wide range of different types of surfactants are surprisingly compatible with highly concentrated K and MEA salt solutions of dicamba.

Example 12

Aqueous tank mix compatibility of the Na, MEA and DGA dicamba salts with potassium glyphosate was measured. A 35.8% a.e. aqueous solution of the dicamba salt solution was added to an aqueous solution comprising 7.7% Roundup POWERMAX® herbicide (containing 540 g a.e./L potassium glyphosate) until precipitation was noted. The weight of the dicamba solution that caused precipitation was noted. The results are reported in Table 12a below where “salt” refers to the dicamba salt and “g to crystals” refers to the total amount of grams of dicamba a.e. that were required to induce crystallization or precipitation of crystals.

TABLE 12a Salt g to crystals Comment Na 13.6 — DGA >17 CLARITY—clear solution with no precipitate MEA >34.2 Clear solution, no precipitate

Only the sodium salt induced crystallization in the presence of potassium glyphosate.

Formulation 11BB was discovered to have low viscosity demonstrating that a 600 g/L a.e. MEA dicamba formulation containing 10% surfactant has a low viscosity and would be easily pumpable. The viscosity as a function of temperature was measured and the results are reported in Table 12b below.

TABLE 12b Temp (° C.) Viscosity (cP) 2.5 201.4 6.5 161.5 10.5 127.1 14.6 99.7 18.3 79.4 22.1 63.7 26 52.2 29.8 42.7

Example 13

In certain formulations containing MEA dicamba and polyimine polymer, the polymer may precipitate upon dilution, particularly at low pH. Addition of APA surfactants to these formulations was evaluated to determine if polyimine polymer dissolution could be facilitated.

A MEA dicamba solution was prepared by mixing together 799.9 grams (64% w/w/) dicamba acid, 198.6 grams (15.9% w/w) MEA and 251.4 grams (20.1% w/w) water until dissolved.

A 16.6% Lupasol P (Poly1) solution was prepared by mixing together 58.2 grams (33.1% w/w) Lupasol P (50%) and 117.5 grams (66.9% w/w water) until dissolved.

Formulations of MEA dicamba containing Lupasol P, and Armeen APA 8, 10 (Surf43) were prepared by combining, in order, the MEA dicamba solution, water, the Armeen APA, and the Lupasol P solution using the amounts reported in Table 13a.

TABLE 13a MEA dicamba Poly1 Surf43 Water Form. (g) (g) (g) (g) pH 13A 33.33 12.52 0 4.17 9.26 13B 33.33 12.52 1 3.15 9.33 13C 33.33 12.52 1.5 2.65 9.35 13D 33.33 12.54 1.75 2.41 9.38 13E 33.33 12.55 2.01 2.17 9.4

In a series of evaluations, 1 mL of each of the Table 13a formulations were combined with 2 mL ROUNDUP WEATHERMAX and 47 mL water in a 50 mL Nessler tube. The results are reported in Table 13b.

TABLE 13b Form. Observation 13A Polymer settled to the bottom of the tube as white lumps 13B White lumps formed, a few settled to the bottom of the tube 13C White lumps formed then dissolved before settling to bottom 13D Very few white lumps formed then dissolved before settling to bottom 13E No lumps formed, dissolved well

The formulations containing APA surfactant showed little or no precipitation of the polymer compared to formulations containing no APA surfactant.

Aqueous formulations comprising MEA dicamba, Lupasol SK, and APA surfactants were formulated as indicated in Table 13c wherein each formulation contained 480 g a.e./L MEA dicamba, 4.15% a.i. Lupasol SK and 2% APA surfactant.

TABLE 13c Formulation APA 681K7H Surf41 682M3D Surf42 683Q9L Surf43 684V5F Surf44 685Y4N Surf45 686X8I Surf46 687E1R Surf47

For all of the formulations studied, the addition of APA surfactant facilitated dissolution of the polymer and no precipitation upon dilution with water or in ROUNDUP tank mixtures was observed.

Additional formulations with varied concentrations of APA were evaluated. Data is provided in Table 13d wherein each formulation was 480 g a.e./L MEA dicamba and 4.15% a.i. Lupasol SK.

TABLE 13d Formulation wt % Surf43 52105B 0.50% 522C2A 1.00% 523M9I 3.00% 524R0P 4.00% 525L2Z 5%  

For all of the formulations studied, the addition of APA facilitated dissolution of the polymer and no precipitation upon dilution with water or in ROUNDUP tank mixtures was observed.

Cold temperature stability of aqueous MEA dicamba formulations containing APA was evaluated. The formulation of the MEA dicamba/APA formulations and test results are provided in Table 13e where all formulations contain 4.15% a.i. Lupasol SK and 2% APA.

TABLE 13e % Dicamba Form. (a.e.) Polymer APA −25° C. −20° C. −15° C. 091U6J 36.00% None none Frozen Frozen Liquid 033P3X 36.00% Poly5 None Liquid Liquid Liquid 048L8N 36.50% Poly5 Surf43 Frozen Frozen Liquid 684M1S 36.30% Poly5 Surf45 Frozen Liquid Liquid 686T6G  36.3% Poly5 Surf47 Frozen Frozen Liquid

An experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of application mixtures comprising MEA dicamba, polyimine polymer and APA. The formulations of the experimental dicamba formulations are indicated in table 13f where the dicamba concentration is reported as wt % a.e. and the concentration of the other components in wt % is indicated in parentheses.

TABLE 13f % MEA dicamba Form. a.e. by wt Poly. (%) APA 810B4B 39.5 Poly1 (4.15) Surf43 (2) 810D3E 39.5 Poly1 (4.15) Surf45 (2) 810F9K 39.5 Poly1 (4.15) Surf47 (2) 751W4I 36.3 Poly5 (4)   Surf45 (2) 752A4J 36.3 Poly5 (4)   Surf47 (2) 811U3Y 36.3 Poly3 (4)   Surf43 (2) 812T5F 36.3 Poly3 (4)   Surf45 (2)

The formulations from Table 13f, CLARITY and 925S3J were sprayed over the top of 10-15 cm velvetleaf (ABUTH) plants to evaluate herbicidal efficacy at application rates of 140, 280, and 561 g a.e./ha. Herbicidal efficacy was evaluated 21 days after treatment. The data is presented in Table 13g in an ANOVA summary of formulations mean comparisons by rate.

TABLE 13g Form. 140 g a.e./ha 280 g a.e/ha 560 g a.e/ha CLARITY 44.2 70.8 85.0 925S3J 57.5 80.0 90.0 810B4B 50.0 74.2 84.2 810D3E 58.3 82.5 86.7 810F9K 64.4 74.2 86.7 751W4I 56.7 83.3 91.7 752A4J 65.8 81.7 88.3 811U3Y 50.0 80.0 87.5 812T5F 61.7 75.0 90.8

At the 140 g a.e./ha application rate 925S3J, 810D3E, 810F9K, 751W4I, 752A4J, and 812T5F were more efficacious than CLARITY. At the 280 g a.e./ha application rate 925S3J, 810D3E, 751W4I, 752A4J, and 811U3Y were more efficacious than CLARITY. At the 560 g a.e./ha application rate 925S3J, 751W4I and 811U3Y were more efficacious than CLARITY.

The volatility of formulations comprising MEA dicamba, polyimine polymer, and APA was measured and the results are shown in Table 13h below.

TABLE 13h % Dicamba Form. Polymer Dicamba APA pH ng/L 357C8D Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf43 (4) 6.98 0.413 358X5Y Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf43 (4) 8.00 0.321 359R8Y Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf43 (4) 9.02 0.051 360L4F Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (2) 7.14 0.052 361M0G Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (2) 8.04 0.056 362W7S Poly1 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (2) 9.21 0.049 475K3N Poly3 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (4) 7.07 0.459 47618K Poly3 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (4) 8.04 0.215 477E9B Poly3 (1.25) 10 Surf45 (4) 9.03 0.039

Addition of 2% ACAR 7051 to the formulation comprising MEA dicamba and polyimine polymer greatly reduced dicamba volatility at all 3 pH values of 7.14, 8.04 and 9.21 while addition of 4% Armeen APA 810 showed significant reduction in volatility at pH 9.02.

Example 14

The volatility of MEA dicamba formulations containing polyimine polymer with ROUNDUP herbicides was evaluated and compared with CLARITY+ROUNDUP combination. The dicamba formulations were mixed with ROUNDUP POWERMAX to give a 1:1 ratio of dicamba to glyphosate. The results are shown in Table 14a.

TABLE 14a Volatility Form. Dicamba Form. pH Polymer (ng/L) 114L6H CLARITY 4.57 none 3.172 112Q1E MEA DICAMBA 4.55 none 5.729 115D5B MEA DICAMBA 5.22 Poly2 1.758

The dicamba formulation containing the polyimine polymer had reduced volatility compared to both MEA dicamba and CLARITY formulations.

In a further set of experiments, the volatility of aqueous tank mixtures containing dicamba salt and Roundup POWERMAX® was measured. Aqueous formulations were prepared as described in table 14b. The tank mixtures were evaluated for dicamba concentration in the gas phase (air) through air sampling while being exposed to constant temperature and humidity in humidome in growth chambers.

Humidomes were purchased from Hummert International (Part Nos 14-3850-2 for humidomes and 11-3050-1 for 1020 flat tray) and modified by cutting a 2.2 centimeter (cm) diameter hole on one end approx 5 cm from the top to allow for insertion of glass air sampling tube (22 mm OD) containing a polyurethane foam (PUF) filter. The sampling tube was secured with a Viton o-ring on each side of the humidome wall. The air sampling tube external to the humidome was fitted with tubing that was connected to a vacuum manifold immediately prior to sampling.

Formulations containing dicamba were introduced into the humidome in one of two ways. Solutions containing dicamba formulations (20 mL) were placed in a petri dish which was positioned on the flat tray beneath the humidome. Alternatively, the flat tray beneath the humidome was filled 1 liter of sifted dry or wet 50/50 soil (50% Redi-Earth and 50% US 10 Field Soil) to a depth of about 1 cm and dicamba formulations were sprayed over the soil using a track sprayer at a rate of 10 gallons per acre (GPA). To avoid contamination of the sides of the flat tray each tray was nested in an empty tray prior to spraying. In some evaluations, potted soybean or velvetleaf plants were placed on top of the soil.

The flat tray bottom containing the dicamba formulation in a petri dish or on soil was covered with a humidome lid and the lid was secured with clamps. The assembled humidomes were placed in a temperature and humidity controlled environment and connected to a vacuum manifold through the air sampling line. Air was drawn through the humidome and PUF at a rate of 2 liters per minutes (LPM) for 24 hours at which point the air sampling was stopped. The humidomes were then removed from the controlled environment and the PUF filter was removed. The PUF filter was extracted with 20 mL of methanol and the solution was analyzed for dicamba concentration using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy methods known in the art. The reported results are an average of 3-6 samples.

Aqueous formulations were prepared as indicated in Table 14b below and humidome results are indicated in Table 14c below. Each formulation contained a combination of the indicated dicamba formulation and POWERMAX and having concentrations of 0.5 wt % a.e. dicamba and 1.5 wt % a.e. glyphosate. In Table 14b, “Form. No.” refers to formulation number and “Dicamba form.” refers to dicamba formulation. In Table 14c, “T” refers to temperature in degrees centigrade, “RH” refers to relative humidity, “SD” refers to standard deviation, “ng/L” refers to the air sample dicamba concentration in nanograms per liter, “Petri” refers to petri dish, “soil” refers to 50/50 soil (50% Redi-Earth and 50% US 10 Field Soil), “soy” refers to soybean and “vel” refers to velvetleaf.

TABLE 14b Form No. Dicamba form. Dicamba salt pH 14(1) CLARITY DGA 4.46 14(2) BANVEL DMA 4.47 14(3) 968Q3W MEA 4.5  14(4) 933C3S MEA 4.81

TABLE 14c Form. Dicamba No. Medium Plant T RH ng/L SD % plant injury 14(1) Petri None 35 40 0.179 0.03 14(2) Petri None 35 40 0.151 0.021 14(3) Petri None 35 40 0.209 0.057 14(4) Petri None 35 40 0.165 0.025 14(1) Petri Soy 35 40 0.115 0.045 18% 10DAT 14(2) Petri Soy 35 40 0.202 0.084 19% 10DAT 14(3) Petri Soy 35 40 0.071 0.02 20% 10DAT 14(4) Petri Soy 35 40 0.056 0.018 18% 10DAT 14(1) Soil Soy 35 40 1.254 0.145 32% 13DAT 14(2) Soil Soy 35 40 2.851 1.258 41% 13DAT 14(3) Soil Soy 35 40 1.308 0.044 37% 13DAT 14(4) Soil Soy 35 40 1.139 0.073 34% 13DAT 14(1) Soil Vel 27 40 0.384 0.162 37% 14DAT 14(2) Soil Vel 27 40 0.594 0.208 37% 14DAT 14(3) Soil Vel 27 40 0.462 0.154 37% 14DAT 14(4) Soil Vel 27 40 0.228 0.097 36% 14DAT 14(1) Soil Vel 27 40 0.487 0.198 16% 14DAT 14(2) Soil Vel 27 40 0.697 0.183 19% 14DAT 14(3) Soil Vel 27 40 0.649 0.283 18% 14DAT 14(4) Soil Vel 27 40 0.302 0.103 13% 14DAT

The data in Table 14c indicates that composition 968Q3W (containing MEA dicamba) and BANVEL showed the highest volatility in this humidome test. 933C3S (containing MEA dicamba and Lupasol SK polymer) showed the lowest volatility. Plant injury data was inconclusive in this test.

In a second set of humidome experiments, aqueous formulations were prepared as indicated in Table 14d below. Each formulation contained a combination of the indicated dicamba formulation and POWERMAX and having concentrations of 1 wt % a.e. dicamba and 3 wt % a.e. In Table 14d, “Form. No.” refers to formulation number and “Dicamba form.” refers to dicamba formulation. In Table 14e, “T” refers to temperature in degrees centigrade, “RH” refers to relative humidity, “SD” refers to standard deviation, “ng/L” refers to the air sample dicamba concentration in nanograms per liter, “soil” refers to 50/50 soil (50% Redi-Earth and 50% US 10 Field Soil) wherein the compositions are applied to the soil, “RR soy” refers to ROUNDUP READY soybean wherein the compositions are applied to the plant canopy, and “DT soy” refers to dicamba tolerant soybean wherein the compositions are applied to the plant canopy.

TABLE 14d Form No. Dicamba form. Dicamba salt pH 14(5) CLARITY DGA 4.41 14(6) 968Q3W MEA 4.43 14(7) 944L8M DGA 4.48 14(8) 933C3S MEA 4.81

TABLE 14e Form. No. Medium T RH Dicamba ng/L SD 14(5) Soil 27 40 0.409 0.142 14(6) Soil 27 40 0.632 0.186 14(5) RR soy 27 40 0.77  0.194 14(6) RR soy 27 40 0.822 0.347 14(5) DT soy 27 40 0.619 0.112 14(6) DT soy 27 40 0.837 0.144 14(7) Soil 27 40 0.265 0.077 14(8) Soil 27 40 0.178 0.062 14(7) RR soy 27 40 0.468 0.081 14(8) RR soy 27 40 0.464 0.117

The data show that the addition of PEI polymer to MEA dicamba formulations reduces the volatility of dicamba from a canopy of ROUNDUP READY soybeans and from a canopy of dicamba tolerant soybeans.

In a set of tube test experiments, aqueous formulations were prepared as indicated in Table 14f below. In Table 14f, “Form. No.” refers to formulation number and “Dicamba form.” refers to dicamba formulation. Each Table 14f formulation contained 2 wt % a.e. dicamba and 6 wt % a.e. glyphosate. Glyphosate “K salt” refers to the potassium salt of glyphosate wherein the glyphosate source was an aqueous solution containing 47.9 wt % a.e. potassium glyphosate; POWERMAX refers to ROUNDUP POWERMAX®; and WEATERMAX refers to ROUNDUP WEATHERMAX®. In Table 14g, “SD” refers to standard deviation and “ng/L” refers to the air sample dicamba concentration in nanograms per liter.

TABLE 14f Form. Dicmaba Dicamba Gly- No. Form. Salt Additional components phosate 14(9) BANVEL DMA — K salt 14(10) 957Y2S MEA — K salt 14(11) CLARITY DGA — K salt 14(12) 929P6H MEA — K salt 14(13) 931F5L MEA — K salt 14(14) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.2% LUPASOL P + K salt Surf48 14(15) CLARITY DGA 0.2% LUPASOL P K salt 14(16) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.2% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(17) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.2% LUPASOL P + K salt AGM 550 14(18) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.2% LUPASOL FG + K salt Surf3 14(19) CLARITY DGA — POWER- MAX 14(20) 931 F5L MEA — POWER- MAX 14(21) 926Y7O MEA Surf2 K salt 14(22) 925S3J MEA Surf48 K salt 14(23) 956N5T MEA Surf3 K salt 14(24) CLARITY DGA 0.2% LUPASOL SK K salt 14(25) CLARITY DGA 0.2% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(26) CLARITY DGA 0.2% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(27) 933C3S MEA — K salt 14(28) DEA dicamba DEA — K salt salt solution 14(29) K-Dicamba K 0.2% LUPASOL SK K salt 14(30) K-Dicamba K 0.2% LUPASOL P K salt 14(31) K-Dicamba K 0.2% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(32) K-Dicamba K 0.2% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(33) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.15% LUPASOL P 14(34) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL P 14(35) Na-Dicamba Na — K salt 14(36) Na-Dicamba Na — POWER- MAX 14(37) BANVEL DMA 0.2% LUPASOL SK K salt 14(38) BANVEL DMA 0.2% LUPASOL P K salt 14(39) BANVEL DMA 0.2% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(40) BANVEL DMA 0.2% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(41) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(42) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.10% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(43) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(44) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(45) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(46) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL FG 14(47) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL FG 14(48) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(49) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(50) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL FG + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(51) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL FG + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(52) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL HF + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(53) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL SK 14(54) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(55) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(56) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL P + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL FG 14(57) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL FG 14(58) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(59) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL SK + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(60) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL FG + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL HF 14(61) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL FG + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(62) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL HF + K salt 0.05% LUPASOL PN60 14(63) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.10% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(64) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(65) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.21% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(66) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.25% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(67) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.30% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(68) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.41% Surf30 K salt 14(69) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(70) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.10% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(71) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(72) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(73) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.25% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(74) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.30% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(75) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.05% LUPASOL P K salt 14(76) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.10% LUPASOL P K salt 14(77) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL P K salt 14(78) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL P K salt 14(79) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.25% LUPASOL P K salt 14(80) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.30% LUPASOL P K salt 14(81) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(82) K-Dicamba K 0.10% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(83) K-Dicamba K 0.15% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(84) K-Dicamba K 0.20% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(85) K-Dicamba K 0.25% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(86) K-Dicamba K 0.30% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(87) K-Dicamba K 0.05% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(88) K-Dicamba K 0.10% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(89) K-Dicamba K 0.15% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(90) K-Dicamba K 0.20% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(91) K-Dicamba K 0.25% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(92) K-Dicamba K 0.30% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(93) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.15% LUPASOL FG POWER- MAX 14(94) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL FG POWER- MAX 14(95) 942T3R DGA — K salt 14(96) K-Dicamba K 0.20% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(97) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.25% LUPASOL FG POWER- MAX 14(98) 942T3R DGA — POWER- MAX 14(99) 942T3R DGA — WEATH- ER-MAX 14(100) 957Y2S MEA — WEATH- ER-MAX 14(101) BANVEL DMA — POWER- MAX 14(102) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.2% LUPASOL FG + K salt Surf3 14(103) 933C3S MEA — POWER- MAX 14(104) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.05% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(105) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.10% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(106) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.15% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(107) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(108) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.25% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(109) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.30% LUPASOL FG K salt 14(110) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL SK K salt 14(111) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL P K salt 14(112) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL HF K salt 14(113) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL G20 K salt 14(114) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL G35 K salt 14(115) MEA-Dicamba MEA 0.20% LUPASOL G100 K salt 14(116) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL G20 K salt 14(117) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL G35 K salt 14(118) DGA-Dicamba DGA 0.20% LUPASOL G100 K salt

TABLE 14g Form. No. pH Dicamba ng/L SD 14(9) 4.08 5.04 0.963 14(10) 4.08 3.052 0.682 14(11) 4.07 2.778 0.476 14(12) 4.19 2.801 0.039 14(13) 4.46 3.483 0.336 14(14) 4.47 3.397 0.199 14(15) 4.56 1.706 0.233 14(16) 4.51 2.622 0.113 14(17) 4.52 3.53 0.181 14(18) 4.1 3.949 1.342 14(19) 4.36 1.811 0.13 14(20) 4.65 1.766 0.329 14(21) 4.21 5.761 1.294 14(22) 4.23 3.566 0.184 14(23) 4.28 3.644 0.283 14(24) 4.22 2.218 0.589 14(25) 4.69 1.7 0.015 14(26) 4.64 1.08 0.184 14(27) 4.58 0.781 0.092 14(28) 4.1 2.398 0.592 14(29) 4.26 2.484 0.427 14(30) 4.54 2.454 0.531 14(31) 4.53 1.527 0.085 14(32) 4.49 1.152 0.194 14(33) 4.46 3.244 1.016 14(34) 4.35 3.176 0.153 14(35) 4.75 0.98 0.245 14(36) 4.87 1.566 0.451 14(37) 4.15 2.685 0.45 14(38) 4.46 3.611 0.732 14(39) 4.47 3.54 0.681 14(40) 4.48 1.879 0.045 14(41) 4.32 2.934 0.671 14(42) 4.26 2.965 0.392 14(43) 4.23 3.416 0.591 14(44) 4.31 4.482 0.912 14(45) 4.22 5.322 1.191 14(46) 4.29 3.052 0.492 14(47) 4.26 2.96 0.523 14(48) 4.23 4.978 1.258 14(49) 4.15 5.453 0.981 14(50) 4.31 2.513 0.709 14(51) 4.19 2.261 0.363 14(52) 4.21 3.605 0.888 14(53) 4.28 3.59 1.143 14(54) 4.35 3.599 0.788 14(55) 4.21 3.459 1.033 14(56) 4.27 2.483 0.63 14(57) 4.24 2.359 0.268 14(58) 4.23 2.545 0.543 14(59) 4.13 4.832 0.31 14(60) 4.34 2.761 0.801 14(61) 4.23 2.962 0.709 14(62) 4.2 2.622 0.609 14(63) 4.26 2.266 0.459 14(64) 4.32 2.51 0.41 14(65) 4.56 0.933 0.351 14(66) 4.56 1.323 0.407 14(67) 4.66 0.898 0.188 14(68) 4.25 3.564 0.337 14(69) 4.15 3.797 0.883 14(70) 4.27 3.953 0.702 14(71) 4.33 3.551 0.236 14(72) 4.44 2.641 0.863 14(73) 4.51 3.228 0.54 14(74) 4.63 2.776 0.386 14(75) 4.26 2.963 0.422 14(76) 4.34 2.829 0.868 14(77) 4.43 2.471 0.611 14(78) 4.53 2.156 0.573 14(79) 4.59 3.311 0.104 14(80) 4.67 2.451 0.173 14(81) 4.19 4.159 0.411 14(82) 4.28 3.417 0.487 14(83) 4.37 3.244 0.565 14(84) 4.44 3.431 0.998 14(85) 4.49 2.972 0.676 14(86) 4.54 2.515 0.739 14(87) 4.24 2.28 0.233 14(88) 4.33 1.91 0.458 14(89) 4.41 1.708 0.346 14(90) 4.52 0.908 0.631 14(91) 4.58 1.146 0.207 14(92) 4.64 1.094 0.232 14(93) 4.68 1.799 0.754 14(94) 4.71 2.412 0.84 14(95) 4.12 1.806 0.313 14(96) 4.52 1.457 0.371 14(97) 4.77 1.251 0.38 14(98) 4.41 1.688 0.197 14(99) 4.52 1.558 0.413 14(100) 4.449 2.347 0.457 14(101) 4.34 3.898 0.991 14(102) 4.58 3.837 0.475 14(103) 4.61 1.391 0.087 14(104) 4.25 1.972 0.343 14(105) 4.35 1.334 0.135 14(106) 4.43 1.334 0.25 14(107) 4.53 1.431 0.373 14(108) 4.59 1.046 0.097 14(109) 4.63 1.149 0.394 14(110) 4.18 3.551 0.241 14(111) 4.46 1.947 0.268 14(112) 4.45 2.725 0.634 14(113) 4.57 1.275 0.262 14(114) 4.56 1.467 0.372 14(115) 4.53 2.797 0.936 14(116) 4.56 1.164 0.364 14(117) 4.55 1.036 0.169 14(118) 4.54 1.34 0.204

The Table 14g data show that the addition of PEI reduces the volatility of CLARITY (DGA dicamba), BANVEL (DMA dicamba) and potassium dicamba with LUPASOL FG providing the largest reduction. The data further show that lower molecular weight LUPASOL PEIs provide the greatest volatility reduction for MEA dicamba. The data further show that a weight ratio of dicamba a.e. to PEI polymer of about 10:1 provides the best volatility reduction. The data still further show that PEI polymers having a molecular weight in excess of about 5,000 Daltons are preferred.

Example 15

The spray droplet particle size of compositions of the present invention and comparative compositions were measured using an Aerometrics phase doppler particle analysis (PDPA) system. The samples were each diluted in 15 L tap water at 20.0° C. to a final equivalent kilogram per hectare (kg/ha) value based on an application rate of 93 liters per hectare (L/ha). The kg/ha values are disclosed in Table 15a below. For each reported kg/ha value, a corresponding concentration in grams acid equivalent per liter can be calculated from the application rate of 93 L/ha. In particular, values of 0.073, 0.09, 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha reported in table 15a below correspond to 0.78, 0.97, 3 and 6 g a.e./L, respectively. Where the drift control agents GARDIAN and INTERLOCK are indicated, the concentration is reported in % v/v based on the final diluted formulation.

TABLE 15a Formulation Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 CLARITY 0.073 0.28 0.56 — CLARITY + 0.073 + 0.28 + — — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 0.5% v/v CLARITY + 0.073 + 0.28 + — — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v 0.3% v/v 962P0H 0.073 0.28 0.56 — 962P0H + 0.070 + 0.28 + — — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 0.5% v/v 962P0H + 0.073 + 0.28 + — — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v 0.3% v/v 908D1S 0.073 0.28 0.56 — 908DIS + 0.073 + — — — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 908DIS + 0.073 + — — — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v 929P6H 0.073 0.28 0.56 — 929P6H + 0.073 + — — — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 926Y7O 0.073 0.09 0.28 0.56 926Y7O + — 0.09 + 0.28 + — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 0.5% v/v 926Y7O + 0.073 + — 0.28 + — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v 0.3% v/v 931F5L — 0.28 0.56 — 931F5L + — 0.28 + — — GARDIAN 0.5% v/v 931F5L + — 0.28 + — — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v GARDIAN 0.5% v/v — — — INTERLOCK 0.3% v/v — — —

Each mixture was sprayed through a Teejet XR8003VS nozzle tip at 276 kPa (40 psi) at a height of 30 cm above the probe volume of the Aerometrics PDPA laser system. The size range scanned was from 25.7 μm-900.0 μm. The voltage for the photo-multiplier tube (PMT) was set to 325V.

Two types of measurement were made for each treatment: a stationary center measurement under the x-y axes intersection point (center); and a scan down the length of the long x-axis to yield an overall global sample (x-scan). Each measurement was replicated 3 times. These replicates were merged to yield an overall sample. This data was run through a macro program to generate data including (i) average velocity (in meters per second for the entire spray cloud); (ii) D10 (arithmetic mean diameter); (iii) D20 (area mean); (iv) D30 (volume mean); (v) D32 (sauter mean); (vi) 10% and 90% points (The droplet particle size below which 10% (or 90%) of the volume of the measured particles lie); (vii) Volume Median Diameter (Dv0.5−The droplet particle size below which 50% of the volume of particles are contained); (viii) Number Median Diameter (NMD—The particle size below which 50% of the number of droplet particles are contained); (ix) relative span [(90% point−10% point)/VMD, wherein, the smaller the number, the more narrow (monodispersed) the distribution]; (x) percent by volume and number<100 and <150 μm (the proportion of the volume of the spray cloud/number of droplet particles contained within (above/below) a given size range); and (xi) percent distributions by volume and number for 100-200 μm.

The PDPA particle size data for a first set of experiments is reported in Table 15b below.

TABLE 15b % V 100 μm to Formulation Measurement % V < 100 μm % V < 150 μm 200 μm Water Center 7.73 16.69 19.91 x-scan 4.32 12.02 18.75 CLARITY Center 8.11 17.49 20.54 Sample 1 x-scan 4.78 12.62 18.89 CLARITY Center 8.39 17.92 21.16 Sample 2 x-scan 4.44 12.19 18.87 CLARITY Center 9.32 19.21 21.7 Sample 3 x-scan 5.3 13.73 20.24 926Y7O Center 5.16 13.22 19.47 Sample 1 x-scan 2.99 9.79 17.03 926Y7O Center 4.66 12.19 18.42 Sample 3 x-scan 2.84 9.12 16.15 926Y7O Center 6.11 14.82 20.32 Sample 4 x-scan 3.44 10.47 17.66 926Y7O + Center 6.94 15.47 17.75 GARDIAN x-scan 3.29 8.5 12.13 Sample 3 926Y7O + Center 2.49 8.15 15.18 INTERLOCK x-scan 2.14 7.71 15.05 Sample 3 931F5L Center 5.33 13.41 19.19 Sample 2 x-scan 2.91 9.39 16.43 931F5L Center 3.69 10.54 17.23 Sample 3 x-scan 2.42 8.28 15.61 931F5L + Center 5.4 11.73 13.96 GARDIAN x-scan 2.47 6.43 9.45 Sample 2 931F5L + Center 1.42 5.63 12.12 INTERLOCK x-scan 1.39 5.74 12.5 Sample 2

The x-scan results for water, CLARITY Sample 3, 926Y7O Sample 4, 931F5L Sample 3, 908D1S Sample 3 and 929P6H Sample 3 are depicted in FIG. 1.

Analysis of the Table 15b results show that the CLARITY prior art compositions had a greater volume percent at less than 100 μm, less than 150 μm and from 100 μm to 200 μm than each composition of the present invention at comparative dicamba concentrations thereby indicating that the inventive compositions provide a larger average droplet particle size than the comparative prior art compositions.

The PDPA particle size data for a second set of experiments is reported in Table 15c below wherein the dicamba final kg/ha values for formulation 926Y7O Samples 5, 6 and 7 were 0.072, 0.35 and 0.7 kg/ha, respectively.

TABLE 15c % V 100 μm to Formulation Measurement % V < 100 μm % V <150 μm 200 μm Water x-scan 4.7 12.78 19.5 Water + x-scan 2.76 7.38 10.91 GARDIAN CLARITY x-scan 4.78 12.62 18.89 Sample 1 CLARITY x-scan 4.44 12.19 18.87 Sample 2 CLARITY x-scan 5.3 13.73 20.24 Sample 3 CLARITY + x-scan 2.28 6.08 9.07 GARDIAN Sample 1 CLARITY + x-scan 1.78 6.73 13.44 INTERLOCK Sample 1 962P0H x-scan 4.66 12.42 18.87 Sample 1 962P0H x-scan 4.45 12.5 19.13 Sample 2 962P0H x-scan 4.4 12.44 19.38 Sample 3 962P0H + x-scan 2.46 6.36 9.2 GARDIAN Sample 1 962P0H + x-scan 1.65 6.44 13.58 INTERLOCK Sample 1 908D1S x-scan 4.23 11.82 18.32 Sample 1 908D1S x-scan 5.19 13.59 19.81 Sample 2 908D1S x-scan 6.26 15.68 22.05 Sample 3 908D1S + x-scan 2.86 7.41 10.59 GARDIAN Sample 1 908D1S + x-scan 1.5 5.89 12.69 INTERLOCK Sample 1 929P6H x-scan 4.67 12.46 18.72 Sample 1 929P6H x-scan 4.24 11.76 18.23 Sample 2 929P6H x-scan 4.31 11.72 18.04 Sample 3 929P6H + x-scan 2.22 5.84 8.68 GARDIAN Sample 1 926Y7O x-scan 3.46 10.7 17.71 Sample 5 926Y7O x-scan 2.69 8.9 16.6 Sample 6 926Y7O x-scan 5.59 14.58 21.05 Sample 7 926Y7O + x-scan 2.63 7.09 10.44 GARDIAN Sample 2

Analysis of the Table 15c results show that the CLARITY prior art compositions had a greater volume percent: at less than 100 μm, less than 150 μm and from 100 μm to 200 μm than each of compositions 962P0H Sample 1, 908D1S Sample 1, 908D1S+INTERLOCK Sample 1, 929P6H Samples 1-3, 929P6H+GUARDIAN Sample 1 and 926Y7O Sample 5 of the present invention at comparative dicamba concentrations; at less than 100 μm and from 100 μm to 200 μm than 962P0H Sample 3 at a comparative dicamba concentration; at less than 100 μm and at less than 150 μm than 962P0H+INTERLOCK Sample 1 at a comparative dicamba concentration; and at less than 150 μm and from 100 μm to 200 μm than composition 908D1S Sample 3 at a comparative dicamba concentration thereby indicating that those inventive compositions provide a larger average droplet particle size than the comparative prior art compositions.

The Average velocity (m/sec), NMD (in μm) and span for the measurements reported in Table 15c are reported in Table 15d below.

TABLE 15d Average velocity Formulation (m/sec) NMD (μm) Span Water 5.55 76.97 1.22 Water + 5.6 73.14 1.02 GARDIAN CLARITY 5.58 73.14 1.14 Sample 1 CLARITY 5.78 79.33 1.18 Sample 2 CLARITY 5.58 71.77 1.18 Sample 3 CLARITY + 5.69 72.47 0.97 GARDIAN Sample 1 CLARITY + 7.3 119.42 1.01 INTERLOCK Sample 1 962P0H 5.53 75.23 1.15 Sample 1 962P0H 5.83 79.27 1.17 Sample 2 962P0H 5.81 78.88 1.14 Sample 3 962P0H + 5.64 69.65 0.98 GARDIAN Sample 1 962P0H + 7.54 124.48 1.02 INTERLOCK Sample 1 908D1S 5.65 76.92 1.23 Sample 1 908D1S 5.69 73.44 1.27 Sample 2 908D1S 5.48 70.22 1.16 Sample 3 908D1S + 5.74 72.72 1.05 GARDIAN Sample 1 908D1S + 7.57 126.58 0.94 INTERLOCK Sample 1 929P6H 5.62 73.82 1.11 Sample 1 929P6H 5.88 80.83 1.15 Sample 2 929P6H 5.85 77.96 1.11 Sample 3 929P6H + 5.67 73.36 1.05 GARDIAN Sample 1 926Y7O 6.3 91.54 1.05 Sample 5 926Y7O 6.53 100.98 1.21 Sample 6 926Y7O 5.66 75.35 1.11 Sample 7 926Y7O + 5.58 74.76 1.11 GARDIAN Sample 2

Analysis of the Table 15d results show that the CLARITY prior art compositions had a smaller median droplet particle size than inventive compositions 962P0H Samples 1 and 3, 962P0H+INTERLOCK Sample 1, 908D1S Sample 1, 908D1S+GARDIAN Sample 1, 908D1S+INTERLOCK Sample 1, 929P6H Samples 1-3, 929P6H+GARDIAN Sample 1, 926Y7O Sample 5 and 926Y70+GARDIAN Sample 1 at comparative dicamba concentrations thereby indicating that those inventive compositions provide a larger droplet particle size than the comparative prior art compositions.

Example 16

The eye irritation potential of an aqueous formulation of the present invention was evaluated. A formulation consisting 61 wt % a.e. aqueous MEA dicamba solution having a pH of 8.5 was prepared. Eye irritation testing was done according to the methods provided in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Health Effects Test Guidelines: OPPTS 870.2400 Acute Eye Irritation. The eyes of 3 rabbit animals were treated with the formulation and were scored for effects on the cornea, iris, and conjunctivae (redness, swelling and discharge). A FIFRA category 3 rating, or moderately irritating, was assigned to the formulation. The results are presenting in Tables 16a-c below.

TABLE 16a Animal 1 Hours Days 2 24 48 72 4 7 10 Cornea Opacity 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 Area 2 4 4 3 3 4 4 Iris Values 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 Conjunctivae Redness 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 Chemosis 3 2 2 2 2 0 0 Discharge 3 3 2 1 1 1 0

TABLE 16b Animal 2 Hours Days 2 24 48 72 4 7 10 Cornea Opacity 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 Area 2 3 3 1 1 4 4 Iris Values 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Conjunctivae Redness 3 3 3 2 2 0 0 Chemosis 3 2 2 2 2 0 0 Discharge 3 3 1 0 1 1 0

TABLE 16c Animal 3 Hours Days 2 24 48 72 4 7 10 Cornea Opacity 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Area 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 Iris Values 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 Conjunctivae Redness 3 3 3 2 2 1 3 Chemosis 3 2 2 2 2 0 3 Discharge 3 3 1 1 1 1 3

All treated eyes exhibited corneal opacity, iritis and conjunctivitis within 24 hours after treatment. All eyes were free of positive scores 7 days after treatment and all irritation by 10 days (conjunctival scores of 1 are not considered as positive scores). Based on the results of the study, the MEA dicamba formulation is considered to be moderately irritating to the eye and would likely be classified in FIFRA Category III.

Example 17

The eye irritation potential of formulations 908D1S and 929P6H were evaluated. Eye irritation testing was conducted to comply with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations as defined in: 40 CFR 160 (U.S. EPA GLP Standards—Pesticide Programs (FIFRA) 1989; OECD Principles of GLP (as revised in 1977) published in ENV/MC/CHEM (98)17, OECD, Paris (1978); and EC Directive 2004/10/EC, Official Journal of the European Union, L50/44 (2004). Testing was done according to the protocol provided in: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Health Effects Test Guidelines (OPPTS 870.2400) Acute Eye Irritation; OECD Guideline for the Testing of Chemicals, Test No. 405; and Official Journal of the European Communities, Methods for the Determination of Toxicity, Part B.5 (Eye Irritation), Directive 2004/73/EC.

The eyes of 3 rabbit animals were treated with each formulation to determine the potential for formulations 908D1S and 929P6H to produce irritation from a single instillation via the ocular route. Prior to testing of the formulations, one drop of 2% ophthalmic fluorescein sodium was instilled into both eyes of each rabbit. After about 30 seconds, the eyes were rinsed with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) and then evaluated and scored for corneal damage and abnormalities using an ultraviolet light source. Three healthy rabbits, not previously tested and without preexisting ocular irritation, were selected for testing. Prior to testing of the formulations, 2-3 drops of ocular anesthetic (Tetracaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%) were placed in each of both eyes of each rabbit. One tenth of a milliliter of the evaluated formulation was instilled in the right eye of the rabbit. The left eye remained untreated and served as a control. Ocular irritation was evaluated at 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours by the method of Draize et al. (Methods for the study of irritation and toxicity of substances applied topically to the skin and mucous membranes, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 82:377-390 (1944)). The fluorscein dye evaluation method described above was performed at 24 and/or at 48 hours to evaluate the extent of corneal damage. The time interval with the highest mean score (Maximum Mean Total Score—MMTS) for all rabbits was used to classify the test substance by the system of Kay and Calandra (Kay, J. H. and Calandra, J.C₆., Interpretation of eye irritation tests, J. Soc. Cos. Chem., 13:281-289 (1962)). The results for formulation 929P6H are presented in Tables 17a and b below and the results for formulation 908D1S are presented in Tables 17c-e below.

TABLE 17a EEC Mean Scores for formulation 929P6H. Corneal Conjunctival Conjunctival Rabbit No. Opacity Iris Lesion Redness Chemosis 1 (Male) 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.0 2 (Female) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3 (Female) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Formulation 929P6H is classified as mildly irritating to the eye and meets the requirements for the EC classification of “No classification for ocular irritation.

TABLE 17b Individual scores for ocular irritation for formulation 929P6H Hour 1 Hour 24 Hour 48 Hour 72 Rabbit No. 1 (Male) I. Cornea A. Opacity 0  1^(a)  0^(a) 0 B. Area 4 1 4 4 (A × B) × 5 0 5 0 0 II. Iris A. Values 0 0 0 0 A × 5 0 0 0 0 III. Conjunctivae A. Redness 2 2 1 0 B. Chemosis 1 0 0 0 C. Discharge 2 2 1 0 (A + B + C) × 2 10  8 4 0 Total 10  13  4 0 Rabbit No. 2 (Female) I. Cornea A. Opacity 0  0^(a) 0 0 B. Area 4 4 4 4 (A × B) × 5 0 0 0 0 II. Iris A. Values 0 0 0 0 A × 5 0 0 0 0 III. Conjunctivae A. Redness 1 0 0 0 B. Chemosis 0 0 0 0 C. Discharge 2 0 0 0 (A + B + C) × 2 6 0 0 0 Total 6 0 0 0 Rabbit No. 3 (Female) I. Cornea A. Opacity 0  0^(a) 0 0 B. Area 4 4 4 4 (A × B) × 5 0 0 0 0 II. Iris A. Values 0 0 0 0 A × 5 0 0 0 0 III. Conjunctivae A. Redness 2 0 0 0 B. Chemosis 1 0 0 0 C. Discharge 2 1 0 0 (A + B + C) × 2 10  2 0 0 Total 10  2 0 0 ^(a)2% ophthalmic fluorscein used to evaluate the extent or verify the absence of corneal opacity

TABLE 17c EEC Mean Scores for formulation 908D1S Corneal Conjunctival Conjunctival Rabbit No. Opacity Iris Lesion Redness Chemosis 4 (Female) 1.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 5 (Female) 1.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 6 (Female) 1.0 0.0 2.0 1.3

Formulation 908D1S is classified as mildly irritating to the eye and meets the requirements for the EC classification of “No classification for ocular irritation.”

TABLE 17d Average scores for ocular irritation for formulation 908D1S Time Post Incidence of Positive Effects Instillation Corneal Opacity Iritis Conjunctivitis  1 hour 2/3 2/3 3/3 24 hours 3/3 0/3 3/3 48 hours 3/3 0/3 3/3 72 hours 3/3 0/3 3/3 Day 4 3/3 0/3 1/3 Day 7 3/3 0/3 0/3 Day 10 3/3 0/3 0/3 Day 14 3/3 0/3 0/3 Day 17 3/3 0/3 0/3 Day 21 3/3 0/3 0/3

TABLE 17e Mean scores for severity of irritation for formulation 908D1S Time Post Instillation Severity of Irritation (Mean Score)  1 hour 25.0 24 hours 30.3 48 hours 23.3 72 hours 23.3 Day 4 20.3 Day 7 19.7 Day 10 17.3 Day 14 15.3 Day 17 16.0 Day 21 11.0

One hour after instillation of formulation 908D1S, two of the three treated eyes exhibited corneal opacity and iritis, and “positive” conjunctivitis was evident in all three eyes. By 24-hours iritis had cleared from both affected eyes, however, corneal opacity and conjunctivitis were present in all three treated eyes. The overall incidence and severity of irritation decreased gradually thereafter. Pannus was observed in all three eyes between Days 14 and 21. By study termination (Day 21), corneal opacity persisted in all treated eyes with minimal conjunctivitis noted in two eyes.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above methods, formulations and processes without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An aqueous herbicidal solution concentrate formulation useful for killing or controlling the growth of unwanted plants, the formulation comprising an auxin herbicide salt and a pH buffer.
 2. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the pH buffer comprises a polybasic polymer.
 3. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the auxin herbicide salt is selected from the group consisting of the monethanolamine salt, sodium salt, potassium salt, diethanolamine salt, isopropylamine salt, diglycolamine salt, dimethylamine salt, and combinations thereof.
 4. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the pH is from about 4 to about
 11. 5. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the pH is from about 5 to about
 10. 6. The formulation of claim 1 wherein the pH is from about 7 to about
 9. 7. The formulation of claim 1 comprising at least 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 480, 500, 520, 540, 560, 580, 600, 620, 640, 660, 680 or 700 grams acid equivalent per liter of dicamba salt.
 8. The formulation claim 7 further comprising at least one surfactant wherein the weight ratio of dicamba salt acid equivalent to surfactant is from 1:1 to 20:1.
 9. The formulation of claim 8 wherein the surfactant is selected from alkoxylated tertiary etheramines, alkoxylated quaternary etheramines, alkoxylated etheramine oxides, alkoxylated tertiary amines, alkoxylated quaternary amines, alkoxylated polyamines, sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters, alkyl polysaccharides, alkoxylated alcohols, and combinations thereof.
 10. The formulation of claim 1 further comprising at least one co-herbicide.
 11. The formulation of claim 10 wherein the co-herbicide is selected from the group consisting of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors, photosystem II inhibitors, photosystem I inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO or Protox) inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase inhibitor, glutamine synthetase inhibitor, dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitor, mitosis inhibitors, synthetic auxins, auxin transport inhibitors, nucleic acid inhibitors, and salts and esters thereof; racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof; and combinations thereof.
 12. The formulation of claim 11 wherein the co-herbicide is selected from the group consisting of acetochlor, acifluorfen, alachlor, atrazine, azafenidin, bifenox, butachlor, butafenacil, carfentrazone-ethyl, diuron, dithiopyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, glyphosate, glufosinate, imazethapyr, lactofen, metazochlor, metolachlor (and S-metolachlor), oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, pyraflufen-ethyl, sulfentrazone and thenylchlor, and salts and esters thereof; racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof, and combinations thereof.
 13. A method of using dicamba herbicide to control auxin-susceptible plants growing in and/or adjacent to a field of crop plants, the method comprising the steps of (i) preparing an aqueous herbicidal application mixture by diluting with water an aqueous herbicidal solution concentrate formulation comprising a dicamba salt and a pH buffer, and (ii) applying the aqueous herbicidal application mixture to the foliage of the auxin-susceptible plants. 